Friday, June 25, 2010
Eleanor was one of life's gems. I loved it whenever she came into the church office where I work at St. Elizabeth's. I thought that the reason she went out of her way to make me feel special was because she had known my parents, who moved to South Carolina 28 years ago, but who had belonged to St. Bartholomew's for 26 years before that. My mother and Eleanor had known each other through ECW and Altar Guild and other church activities for many, many years, and my mother always spoke so highly of her. As the years went by since Eleanor came to St. Elizabeth's for ECW activities and healing services, I began to realize that my assumption wasn't the case because Eleanor made EVERYONE feel special, and that is not because she wanted them to feel good...it was because she BELIEVED that everyone was special in their own way and it was second nature to let them know that. My heart is filled with such sadness at the passing of this wonderful, gracious lady, and my prayers are with all of her family members and all those whose lives she has graced. Because my own beloved mother lives so far away, Eleanor was a mother figure to me...someone I admired and respected, someone I wanted to emulate, someone who when I was with her gave me the feeling of warmth and connection to my mother...universal in all ways and certainly a memorable example of God's love for all of us. I will miss her greatly. With love and sympathy, Ann Dowling
