To our family, friends and neighbors: What a marvelous autumn. Beautiful golden colors drenched in soft light. Crisp, cool air carrying the gentle sound of the lake. The smell of pumpkin spice cake baking in the kitchen. Despite being known to wander far and wide, Bay View has been our spiritual home now for nearly a decade. A few weeks ago, I promised Elly that we'd see her through her journey here in the beautiful home she built for us. And we made it. Autumn was always one of Elly's favorite seasons and she spent her last days happy, marveling at the beauty and power of nature. She passed away peacefully in her sleep just after midnight on Friday, October 18, 2019. Her last words were to express her profound love for each of us and regret for parting from us so soon. Then Friday began with the most beautiful, calm and bright sunrise – a sure sign that she is at peace and settling in nicely to her eternal beach home, a small, tropical cottage on the ocean with big gardens, a garage full of classic cars and a pack of golden retrievers tearing up the yard. Elly felt an incredible joy for life and had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. As a young girl, you could find her on a typical summer day lugging a tote full of books to and from the Shorewood Library. She went on to graduate from Atwater Elementary School and Shorewood High School and earn a Bachelor of Science in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. After rising through the ranks of the visual styling industry, holding a prestigious position as Art Director with Anthropologie before starting her own styling business with clients across the country, in 2016, Elly was accepted into the Class of 2019 at DePaul University – College of Law and awarded the Dean's Scholarship. She was in the top of her class and nominated for Moot Court. Her work was published in DePaul's Journal of Art, Intellectual Property and Technology Law and she was named its Co-Managing Editor. Her promising legal career was cut short by a tragic battle with cancer, a brain stem glioma. Elly was an amazing woman of many, extraordinary talents. She loved to bake and you could often find her curled up with a recipe book. Her key lime pie with graham cracker crust and toasted, sky high meringue was legendary and her oatmeal butterscotch cookies were always a huge hit with her nieces and nephews who she loved with all her heart. She could keep a room laughing in stitches for hours. She was an avid skier and sailor. Above all, she was a great listener and our best friend. Elly is survived by her loving parents Lynn Waite and Tom Bielinski, brothers Sam Bielinski and Cooper Waite, husband Seth Goettelman and pets Henry, Harper and Arrow. A celebration of Elly's life will be held at the South Shore Pavilion, 2900 S. Shore Dr. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207 on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 1 to 5 pm with a memorial service for our closest family and friends commencing at 3:30. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Elly Goettelman Charitable Foundation, 2964 South Superior Street, Bay View, Wisconsin 53207 which will be making gifts to her favorite causes including golden retriever rescue groups and the South Shore Junior Sailing Foundation. Elly was full of adventure, compassion and wisdom. She taught us so much about life and love, friendship and forgiveness, conviction and persistence. She wished the best for all of us and left us a few parting thoughts: Kindness doesn't cost a thing - sprinkle it everywhere. Pray to have eyes that see the best, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad and a soul that never loses faith. Fear nothing. Love is the answer. Mahalo, El – you will be sorely missed, fondly remembered and loved always. Rest in peace. -Seth Goettelman loving husband and eternal friend