Born in Flaherty, Ky., on April 24, 1897, Ella was the daughter of Thomas and French Lucy Whelan. She was 23 years old when she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph on July 16, 1920. Following an eight‑month postulancy, Ella received the Ursuline habit on March 19, 1921, and the name Sister James Louis.
Prepared for the teaching apostolate, Sister James Louis was assigned mostly to schools in Kentucky, both public and parochial, where she was a teacher of the intermediate grades. Sister James Louis also taught for two years at St. Joseph School in Paul, Neb. Her final assignment was Holy Name of Mary School at Calvary, Ky. Sister James Louis returned to Mount Saint Joseph following the school year of 1942‑1943.
Three years later she was admitted to St. Joseph Infirmary in Louisville where she died suddenly on July 21, 1946. Two days later her Solemn High Requiem Mass was celebrated by Father Gilbert Henninger, MSJ chaplain, who was assisted by three other priests. Burial of Sister James Louis took place in the convent cemetery.