Eleanor B. Monaghan, 97, of Orleans, MA, died peacefully on September 8, 2022. She was predeceased by her husband, William A. Monaghan, Jr., and her sisters, Elizabeth Mc Ginnis and Margaret De Maria, both of Fair Lawn, NJ. She is survived by her three children, William A. Monaghan, III and his wife Melanie Monaghan of Seven Valleys, PA, Douglas J. Monaghan and his wife Ann B. Monaghan, of Gales Ferry, CT, Patricia L. Monaghan and her husband Timothy Simard of Orleans, MA, eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren as well as five nieces and one nephew.
Eleanor was the daughter of Harry and Jennie Barr and grew up in Fair Lawn, NJ. She married in 1947 and was an incredibly devoted wife until her husband’s death in 1995 after a tragic event in 1987 left him totally disabled. She spent most of her life in Hawthorne N.J. and relocated to Cape Cod to be near her daughter.
She was a devout Episcopalian and was an active member of various congregations, most recently St. John the Evangelist in Duxbury, MA and the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans, MA. She lived out her faith through service to others and volunteered her time and energy to many organizations and efforts to improve the lives of those less fortunate than her. Her efforts were many over the years, including visiting many folks in nursing homes, knitting sweaters and caps for the Seaman’s Church Institute, being a reading tutor and even in her 90’s making lunches for school children in summer programs in Cape Cod.
She also supported the Hawthorne Public Library both financially and as a volunteer and Board Member. She was a vocal advocate for gun control and the preservation of the environment. She was a baseball fan since childhood and rooted for her beloved NY Yankees even as a resident of Massachusetts! She was an avid baker and loved giving away her pies, cookies and breads to her friends and family. She loved gardening, traveling and the beautiful waters of Cape Cod.
Her life was devoted to her family and she was generous both materially and with her time. Although she endured terrible circumstances during her husband’s lengthy disability, she never lost her faith or her optimistic outlook on life. Even in her last years, when her mind was diminished, she was happy and content.
She has been loved and will be missed by her extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to any of the following organizations that were important to Eleanor: The Student Conversation Association, United Against Gun Violence (formerly Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence) and Episcopal Relief and Development..