Elva (Cook) Balluff of Aurora, IL, much beloved by her family and all who had the good providence to make her acquaintance, passed away peacefully at Jennings Terrace in Aurora on March 6, 2016. Elva was born on November 12, 1928 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada and is the eldest of six siblings raised by her parents Owen and Elsie Cook.
The Cooks moved from Manitoba to Dryden Ontario in 1946 where, amongst numerous ventures, they established a fishing resort, Cooks Lakeshore Cabins. A recent graduate of Brandon College, Elva became an elementary school teacher in Dryden. She was an active member of First United Church where she sang in the choir and directed a children’s choir. She was active in the community and took part in a community choir and its productions.
While helping her parents in Lakeshore Cabins she caught the eye of a camp guest from Iowa, Winslow Balluff, who said he netted “the biggest catch of my life”, and eventually brought Elva back to Iowa as his wife in 1951. Two children later, Winslow became employed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Agency) which transferred the Balluff family to six different residences in nine years, included the states of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Alaska and brought them to Aurora, IL in 1969. Soon after, her husband became gravely ill and Elva took on the role as family bread winner through her role as Assistant Cashier at the Bank of North Aurora.
Whenever Elva was in Dryden vacationing or helping to care for her mother she sang in church and assisted with directing the Dryden Serenaders. Wherever Elva was there was music.
Elva served her Lord with unwavering faith and with servitude to her fellow man. She lent her magnificent soprano voice to bring comfort and joy to countless. Amongst many charitable activities, Elva tutored at the Dominican Literary Center and Kane County Jail, delivered “Meals on Wheels”, raised funds for the Wayside Cross Mission, and served both the Union Congregational Church of North Aurora and Westminster Presbyterian in various capacities including Choir Director and Elder. Even as her health faded, Elva continued to uplift souls, friends and strangers alike, with her rock solid integrity, dignity, grace, respect for all, noncompromising values, and tireless acts of genuine love. While Elva’s name will not be recorded in this world’s annals of wealth, power, and fame, she will be immortalized in the hearts of all those who dearly hold her tenets as requisite to our very existence.
Elva is survived by her daughter, Kim (Dan) Johnson of Aurora, Illinois; her son, Bill (Cathy) Balluff of Sugar Grove, Illinois; four grandchildren; a great grandchild; brothers Don Cook of Victoria, British Columbia and Charlie Cook of Denver, Colorado; and sister Alice Bloomfield of Dryden, Ontario as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
The Balluff family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the loving comfort and care provided for Elva by the staff of Jennings Terrace and Harbor Light Hospice.
Visitation was held at Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer, Aurora, IL followed immediately by a Memorial Service in the Healy Chapel.
A Memorial Funeral Service to celebrate Elva’s life will be held Monday July 4th, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in First United Church Dryden, ON with Reverend Erin McIntyre Garrick officiating. Interment of ashes will take place in the Dryden Cemetery.
If friends so desire, donations may be made to First United Church or Princess Court through the Stevens Funeral Homes P.O. Box 412, Dryden ON P8N 2Z1 or Jennings Terrace, 275 S. LaSalle Street, Aurora, IL 60505. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca
