BEVERLY: Eleanor L. (Rockett) Williamson, 89, died Monday, February 27, 2012 at the Rosewood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Peabody following a brief illness. Eleanor is now reunited with her husband, the late Robert F. Williamson, who died in October of 1981.
Born in Norwood on September 15, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Edward J. and Catherine (Regan) Rockett. She was a graduate of the Sharon High School and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. She has been a resident of Beverly for over sixty years.
Eleanor declined a scholarship to Boston University instead choosing to work in order to support the war effort. During World War II, she was employed as a secretary at the Boston Army Headquarters on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston for Colonel Armand Lamoureaux, who was the Headquarters Commandant and the Army’s Provost Marshall for New England.
Eleanor met the love of her life during the war when Bob, who was stationed with her brother, Ted in the Marines in Hawaii, began writing her letters introducing himself. Bob and Eleanor would meet in person when Bob returned stateside and was able to get leave. As soon as the war was over, Bob and Eleanor got married and started their family. Eleanor was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and dedicated her life to taking care of her loved ones.
Eleanor was a member of the Cove Improvement Society, St. Mary’s Sodality and was an active volunteer at Beverly Hospital. A voracious reader, Eleanor looked forward to regular visits from the Beverly Bookmoblie. She also enjoyed being a member of the Wednesday Morning Group who met at the Church in the Cove weekly as well as her time swimming at the YMCA with her close friends, Ruth and Grace. Eleanor was accomplished at quilting, sewing and knitting and her family continues to treasure many of her beautiful handmade items.
She is survived by three daughters and a son-in-law, Eleanor M. and John D. Filyaw of Beverly, Judith A. Williamson of Salem and Carole J. Williamson of Hollis, ME; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert J. and Carla (Miraglia) Williamson of Colleyville, TX; three grandchildren, Meghan E. Fisher of Beverly, Brianne N. Williamson of Colleyville, TX and Jennifer A. Kotarides of Baltimore, MD; three great-grandchildren, Teddy Fisher and Ellie Grace Fisher both of Beverly and Cicely Kotarides of Baltimore, MD; a sister, Catherine Songin of Plymouth; sister-in-law, Joan Rockett of Foxboro and several nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by two brothers, Edward and John Rockett.
Visitation will be held on Saturday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot St., Beverly at 8 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass to be celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Church, New Balch St., Beverly at 9 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the North Beverly Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Beverly Public Library Bookmobile Fund, 32, Essex, St., Beverly, MA 01915.