Ilsavada Elaine Wollman

Ilsa was born in the United States, but was raised in Canada and retained her lifelong affection for the country. She graduated from Toronto Western School of Nursing and took a position at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto for ten years. She then was hired at the Los Angeles Veterans Hospital where she met Jerry Wollman. He was an intern at the time, but eventually he became the Chief of Anatomical Pathology. After a six-year courtship, they married in 1968. Because she tended to be a more private person, Ilsa limited the wedding party to the bride, the groom, the best man and maid of honor. 

Ilsa worked at the Veterans Administration hospitals: first at the Los Angeles Veterans hospital and then at the Sepulveda Veterans hospital in the dialysis units for a total of thirty years. Ilsa retired on July 1“, 1993. Even in retirement, however, she continued to use her caregiving skills as she worked as a volunteer for hospice for the next five years. 

During her more than 50-year marriage, Ilsa became a gourmet cook and was always a gracious host. Guests report that they always felt comfortable in the Wollman home. She also served as President of the UCLA Faculty Wives’ Club, and as President of the Women’s Canadian Club in Los Angeles. 

During their careers, Ilsa and Jerry purchased a cottage in Canada, 200 miles from Toronto, with a 400-foot lakefront property. They loved it, and after they retired, they would spend five months out of the year at the Ahmic Lake cottage in Ontario. The rest of the year they lived in their home in Sherman Oaks, California and were constantly busy. Ilsa enjoyed reading her Bible, feeding the hummingbirds, and making daily smoothies for Jerry. She loved gardening and was well-known for her red roses. She often ordered flowers for their friends, for birthdays, and special occasions. This seeded a long relationship with her florist. Ilsa also loved entertaining and traveling along with her other hobbies of knitting and baking. 

The pair enjoyed lifelong friends in Canada, California, and Florida and entertained often. Eventually, Jerry wanted to make sure that Ilsa would be well cared for and began planning to come to University Village Thousand Oaks also known as UVTO. He loved it there immediately. Ilsa was less taken right away, but he assured her it would grow on her. It did. Near the end of her life, many residents greeted her and talked with her when her aides would take her out in her wheelchair. This gave her a feeling of warmth and welcome that she very much appreciated. After his death, per his wishes, Jerry was cremated. Ilsa chose to be buried. As they agreed, his ashes will travel to Canada inside her coffin so the two can be buried together there.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Cavill Funeral Home, 215 Bay Street, Gravenhurst. Reception to follow with interment in Mickle Memorial Cemetery.