Ellen Lee Licocci

Ellen Lee Licocci was born in Clinton, IL on February 9, 1938. She died peacefully at home in Champaign on March 20, 2025, after a long struggle with cancer.

Ellen grew up on a farm in rural Illinois, attending a one room school through 8th grade followed by Clinton Community High School. She married Charles Terry Baker in 1957, with whom she had three daughters. She later earned a BA and MA in education from the University of Illinois and taught first and second graders for twenty years.

In 1975, she was divorced and later married Don Licocci. She moved to Rock Falls IL where they both taught school and lived with two of her children, one of his, and four of his nieces and nephews.

She always loved the outdoors and travelling. She also loved the water, from water skiing as a young woman to teaching an aquasize class well into her 80s. She and Don enjoyed RV camping and on retirement sold their house and spent two years travelling full time in their RV. Even after buying another home, they spent much of each summer travelling and visiting with their camping club. She visited Canada, Mexico, and every state in the US.

For the past 30 years Ellen and Don spent winters in south Texas, where they had many friends and enjoyed an active social life, with visits to Mexico, going to dances, bird watching and playing cards with their friends. When they were not traveling, they spent the summers in their home in Champaign, enjoying time with friends and relatives in the area.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Don Licocci, three daughters Terry Baker (m. Scott Garton), Tammie Baker, and Tracy Louise Baker, step-daughter Dyan Berge, and six grandchildren, Millie, Sophie, and Julia Baker, Nathan Zickhur, Emma Kit Garton, and Kobie Berge. She will be missed by her many friends and family.

A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the clubhouse at Ashland Farms. 2757 JT Coffman Drive, Champaign, IL, 61822.

Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center’s Champaign Chapel 710 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 has been entrusted with handling arrangements.

Please join Ellen’s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com