Eleanor “Ella” Marie (Leonards) Braun
Madison, Wisconsin – Eleanor “Ella” Marie (Leonards) Braun, age 94, passed away on Sunday Aug. 18, 2024, at St. Mary’s Care Center in Madison, Wisconsin, following a long, courageous journey.
Eleanor was born on July 15, 1930, in Rayne, the daughter of Louis and Gertrude (Dischler) Leonards.
Ella was raised in Roberts Cove, a rural German community. She was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church there and later became a lifetime member of the St. Leo’s Altar Society. She was very proud of her birthplace, her family, and her German heritage.
Ella graduated from St. Michael’s High School in Crowley in 1947.
Ella married William (Bill) Braun of Madison on Oct. 26, 1950, and they shared 65 years of marriage before his passing in 2016. Ella was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Madison for over 50 years. Her faith served as a source of strength and was important to her throughout her life, particularly in her later years.
Ella worked for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue during tax season from 1968-1992. She developed many lifelong friendships through her employment there but her greatest achievement and source of pride was that of homemaker, mother and grandmother.
She was the quintessential homemaker, always keeping a meticulous home. Her deep love for her family meant that family always came first. She adored her children, grandchildren and great-granddaughters and she was always available to help them in any way. She often said they were her “pride and joy.”
Survivors include her children Constance Wheeler (Jean Lantz) of Kenosha, Bob Braun (Janine) of The Woodlands, Texas, and Cynthia Hasz (James) of Fitchburg; grandchildren Adam Hasz (Torrie) of Madison, Brandon Hasz of Fitchburg, AnnaClaire Braun Olson (Josh) of Houston, Texas, and William Braun of Houston, Texas; great-granddaughters Eleanor and newborn Tatum Hasz of Madison.
She is also survived by her sisters Marcella Ohlenforst of Rayne and Sylvia Jean Frugé of Crowley; and brothers Louis (Patty) Leonards of Keithsville and Buck Leonards of Rayne; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband William; two sisters Philomena Ohlenforst and Dorothy Leonards; two brothers Blaise Leonards and Edwin Leonards; nine sisters-in-law and eight brothers-in-law.
Ella will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She will always be remembered and cherished as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison.
Visitation will be on Tuesday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of the Mass.
Entombment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park.
The Mass will be live-steamed through a link on St. Peter’s website: https://stpetermadison.org/ or on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StPeterMadison/.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Leo IV Catholic Church in Roberts Cove, 7166 Roberts Cove Road, Rayne, LA 70578; or the charity of the donor’s choice.
A special thanks to the many caring and compassionate staff members at St. Mary’s Care Center, SSM Health Hospice, and Agrace Hospice.
A full obituary may be viewed and online condolences made at www.ryanfuneralservice.com.