Mechthild “Tildy” Ellis
February 9, 1931 – September 25, 2024
Mechthild “Tildy” Ellis lived a life defined by beauty, creativity, and faith. Born in Köln, Germany, in 1931 to Dr. Franz and Dr. Therese Mueller, Tildy emigrated with her family to the United States at the age of seven. They settled in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Tildy’s intellect and creativity quickly began to flourish. From her earliest years, she radiated curiosity and a deep appreciation for both the arts and the sacred.
A gifted student and valedictorian of Derham Hall High School, Tildy earned honors at the College of St. Catherine and was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which allowed her to study art in Europe—an experience that deepened her vision and gave expression to her lifelong love of color, form, and faith. Her artistic spirit was not confined to classrooms or studios—it was always her way of seeing the world. Whether through painting, designing liturgical vestments for clergy, or creating intricate Nativity figures, she sought to reveal the divine beauty woven into everyday life.
Tildy’s hand-crafted Nativity sets became her signature work, gracing churches across Minnesota with reverence and imagination. Each figure she created was shaped by prayer and love, often incorporating the faces and stories of people she cherished. Her crèches were more than decorations; they were spiritual narratives, inviting all to encounter the holy mystery of Christ’s birth with wonder and joy. Guided by a deep sense of inclusion, she placed children with disabilities alongside kings in her manger scenes, and wrapped the Magi in fabrics from across the globe. To Tildy, the Incarnation belonged to all people.
As an educator, Tildy inspired countless students to see art as a reflection of both human creativity and divine grace. As an oblate of St. Benedict’s Monastery, she blended her gifts with service to the Church, enriching liturgical life through her designs, teaching, and music. A longtime member of the Minnesota Center Choral, she brought beauty to the world not just through her hands, but through her voice. She served on the Liturgical Commission of the Diocese of St. Cloud and helped elevate the visual language of prayer through stunning liturgical environments.
Above all, Tildy’s greatest masterpiece was her family. Together with her beloved husband, Dr. Stewart Ellis, she raised three sons and celebrated the blessings of grandchildren who were the light of her later years. She was a woman of deep warmth, generosity, and quiet humor—one who welcomed others with open arms and a radiant heart.
Tildy’s life reminds us that true artistry is not found merely in skill but in love: love for God, for family, for community, and for the world. Her legacy lives on in every student she taught, every liturgical vestment she designed, and every Nativity figure that continues to bring joy and awe to those who gaze upon them.
May her spirit now rest in the embrace of the One whose coming she spent a lifetime depicting—Christ among us, light in the darkness, joy in every season.
Tildy’s parents were also liturgical pioneers and their tribute can be found here.
Tribute by Gary Feldhege, © 2025. All rights reserved.