Funeral Details

Ella Claire Gutowski, beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend and student, passed away at her home in Evanston on August 15, 2024 at the age of 17.

Ella was born in Chicago on June 28, 2007, younger sister to Benjamin Gutowski and child of Jamie Rosman and Timothy Gutowski. She had a sparkle in her eyes and an infectious laugh, and she brought joy with her wherever she went.

At the age of 7, Ella and family moved from Chicago to Evanston, where she attended Willard Elementary, Haven Middle School, and Evanston Township High School. Despite absences, Ella continued to excel academically. A consistent honor roll student, she was due to graduate with high academic honors in May, 2025.

Curious, creative and a lover of reading and writing from the time she was young, Ella planned to study creative writing in college. She was a published writer with bylines in several publications. Her writing received numerous accolades, most recently the highest distinction from the National Council of Teachers of English for the state of Illinois in 2024. The essay was about “becoming” – detailing how her illness did not define her, but had shaped her as a writer and person.

Ella sat on the teen board for Ronald McDonald House Charities and was a leader for the ETHS community service club’s health group. This year she was selected to be on their board. She partnered with Cal’s Angels to lead “Gold Outs”, in which fans at varsity school sporting events wore gold to heighten awareness of pediatric cancer.

She was an avid athlete – she played AYSO and club soccer from the age of 8 and played park district basketball and softball for many years. In high school, she played soccer as a freshman and ran cross country for two years.

Ella loved spending time with her entire family – grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Whether on spring break trips, beach outings, summers Up North or holiday celebrations, she loved being with them. She inherited the best traits from all of her family predecessors and had special nicknames for many of them. She would often take trips with her grandmother, mother, aunts, and her cousins, providing her with several unshakeable bonds as well as role models as she blossomed into a young woman. She was heir to the unique Gutowski/Rosman sense of humor.

Her brother Ben was her best friend. With her “Bean”, she loved teasing their parents, watching bad movies, skiing and going out for ice cream. With her dad “Bug”, she loved walking her dog Boots, watching movies, and eating their favorite foods. And with her mom – her “Su” –, she loved everything else: sitting in the sun, girls' trips, Broadway shows, or simply discussing the world and her place in it.

Ella had a wide circle of friends that spanned groups and interests. She was as comfortable driving around listening to music and going to movies with them as she was hanging out at their houses while baking cookies or playing games. And she loved paddleboarding with them at Dempster Street Beach. Ella was also comfortable on her own, whether building Legos, reading books, or doing word searches.

Ella lived her life completely and courageously. Her motto was “Sisu”, a Finnish term for determination, resilience, grit, and courage. She focused on living, and applied that idea to all she did in her life and to everyone she loved. She would have written this better than we.

From things big and small, Ella did them to their fullest. She never hid from her circumstance or shied away from a challenge, despite having every possible reason to do so. She accomplished an extraordinary amount in 17 years. Her joy, compassion and spirit were unmistakable to anyone who met her. Those who knew and loved her will never forget her, and will always feel her absence.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Cal's Angels, 2422 West Main Street, Unit 3B, St. Charles, Illinois 60175, www.calsangels.org. On the Cal's Angels donation page, please use the drop down menu to make your gift in memory of Ella Gutowski.