Marquis Who's Who Millennium Magazine

514 MILLENNIUM L eonora Porreca Whildin is a retired nurse who devoted many years to providing medical care. Knowing she did not want to work in an office, Ms. Whildin decided that she would attend nursing school but was too young to do so when she initially applied. In the interim, she joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps and worked at Boston Medical Center from 1943 to 1946. She then became a scrub nurse in the neurosurgery department at Boston Medical Center for two years. Finally able to accomplish her goals, Ms. Whildin attended Boston University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in 1954. Getting back to her military roots, she relocated to Germany and became a civilian nurse for the U.S. Army. Her experience and service as a nurse led her to several teaching positions, including as an instructor at the Helene Fuld College of Nursing and the All Souls Hospital School of Nursing, and a guest lecturer at Seton Hall University. Ms. Whildin eventually continued her education, receiving a master’s degree from Columbia University in 1971. Her tireless contributions to the field of nursing have allowed her to serve on numerous medical boards. A s a recipient of numerous awards in art, including being an honoree of the Straw Series Signature Art Technique and winning a third place award from the Tall Grass Art Association, Elmira SmithWilkey has gained notoriety in the field of art. At the age of 6, Ms. Wilkey began taking private art lessons. Since then, she has imparted her passion and expertise to students as an English and drama speech teacher for the Kankakee School District, substitute teacher for the Kankakee County Government and art instructor for Kankakee Community College. In 1977, she and her sister foundedThe Bronte Press, for which she currently serves as printer, co-owner and founder. She remains active in the field as a member of the Illinois State Poetry Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Great Books, where she served as president from 1980 to 1985, the Miniature Book Society, the Kankakee Valley Historical Society, the Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society and the Manteno Historical Society. Ms. Wilkey has also been an active member of her community, serving on the community arts council and donating artwork annually to Hospice Family Care. Ms. Wilkey has held a Bachelors of Arts from Loretto Heights College since 1958. Leonora Porreca Whildin, RN Nursing Educator (Retired) Randolph, NJ Elmira Smith Wilkey Illustrator, Artist, Writer, Educator Bourbonnais, IL