Nola Elizabeth Theiss' Obituary
Nola Elizabeth (Ilchene) Theiss, 77, of Dunedin, Florida, died peacefully in her sleep on December 18, 2025.
Born December 27, 1947, in Melrose Park, Illinois, Nola was the only daughter of Frank and Sophia Ilchene. After graduating early from high school, Nola completed a BA in English at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s Degree at Johns Hopkins University. A woman of varying interests, Nola taught high school English and Photography before starting her own wholesale yarn business, which she ran out of her family’s home in Highland, Maryland. She is the author of numerous books of knitting and crochet patterns, as well as a how-to guide for constructing and designing dollhouses.
In 1996, Nola and her family moved to Sanibel, Florida, where Nola served on the Sanibel City Council and as mayor of the City of Sanibel from 2000-2002. Nola received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University. As an active member of the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva, Nola was a fierce advocate for women and girls and was the founder of the non-profit organization Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships, Inc.
Nola will be remembered for her tireless devotion to the causes she loved and her larger-than-life personality. She is survived by her husband, Harold Theiss, two daughters, Elizabeth Fordham-Theiss and Joanna Theiss, sons-in-law Marc Fordham and Shawn Higgins, and her four beloved grandchildren, Indigo Fordham-Theiss, Zell Fordham-Theiss, Soleil Fordham-Theiss and Nola Higgins.
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