Florence- Ella E. Chainey, 103, of Florence, Wis., passed away Sunday, December 5, 2021, at Florence Health Services, Florence, Wis.

She was born May 9, 1918, in Commonwealth, Wis., daughter of the late Kaarlo and Maria (Soderman) Nevaranta. Ella married Clarence "Cal" Chainey on June 23, 1945, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Florence. He preceded her in death in 1961.

Ella graduated from Florence High School, class of 1934. During the years 1936-1940, the era of the manual typewriter, carbon paper, the hectograph, and mimeograph machines, she began working under the NYA program in various County of Florence offices and at the high school. She served as secretary to County Judge Verle Sells and in 1942 continued as secretary and Register of Probate under Judge Irving W. Smith until December 1957. During that period, she again worked as needed in other county offices. She began employment at the State Bank of Florence in January 1958 as Teller-bookkeeper. She advanced steadily to the position of Executive Vice President and Cashier, which she held at the time of retirement from there in 1976. Having been elected to the Board of Directors in 1969, she continued in that capacity and as its Vice-Chairperson until her final retirement on January 1, 1999.

She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and Altar Society, Florence; the Florence County Historical Society; and the VFW Auxiliary Post No. 3635, where she held the office of President, Treasurer, and Cancer Insurance Chairperson. Ella was also a twenty-year member of the Board of Directors for the Florence County Unity of the American Cancer Society.

Ella's interests included nature photography and canna flower beds. She enjoyed maintaining her beautiful lawn and flower beds when she lived in her home by Fisher Lake. Ella also enjoyed feeding and watching birds.

She is survived by four nephews, Charles Nevaranta, Commonwealth, David (Gail) Nevaranta, Milwaukee, Wis., Wayne Falk, Florence, Wis., and Robert (Arlene) Falk, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; several grand-nieces and grand-nephews; many cousins and friends.

Ella was preceded in death by her parents, Kaarlo and Maria; her husband, Clarence Chainey; infant daughter, Emily Ellen; one sister, Mary (Elmer) Falk; two brothers, Nilo (Ellen) Nevaranta and Carl (Minnie) Nevaranta; one niece, Betty (Romuald) Braun; and one nephew, Arnie (Irene) Falk

The Funeral Mass will take place, Friday, May 27, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, Florence, Wis. Rev. Albert Balderas will officiate. Burial will take place in St. Mary Cemetery, Florence, Wis.

You may leave a condolence or tribute for Ella's family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, Florence, Wis., to honor Ella's legacy of life.