Obituary of Eleanor Wagenseller
Eleanor Ferry Wagenseller, of Elm, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at home, on March 2, 2021, in the care of her loving family. Eleanor never recovered from the loss of her husband George –who had passed less than nine months before her. Her love for her family was rock solid, but she made it clear that she wanted nothing more than to be reunited with her true love. For that reason alone, her family is grateful for God’s mercy.
Born in 1934, Eleanor was the oldest daughter of devout Irish Catholic parents. She grew up on Bellevue Avenue in Penndel, Pennsylvania. Like so many others, her childhood was shaped by the Great Depression and WWII; rationing, sacrificing and making do with little, in addition to growing up with 4 brothers and a sister, made her a tough, strong willed and resourceful Lady! Eleanor attended Our Lady of Grace grade school in Penndel and Little Flower High School in Philadelphia. She later transferred to Langhorne High School, which was renamed Neshaminy during her time there. Eleanor worked as a waitress at Greenwood Dairy’s in Langhorne in the late 1940’s and it was there that she met George, the love of her life. When the Korean War extended George’s military service time, Eleanor waited patiently for him to come home and for the next 68 years, they would never be apart.
After raising her own children and moving to New Jersey, Eleanor became a teacher and dedicated her career to helping very young and disadvantaged children. “Miss Eleanor” became a mother to them all and to their young parents as well. She was loved by too many people to count.
Before moving to South Jersey in 1980, George and Eleanor were original Levittown homeowners and there they raised the four children who now survive them: George Jr. (Jackie Cummings), Jeanne Borrelli (Vince), Bern (Sherie Sholly), and Barbara (Chris Laureys). They are also survived by 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, one G2grandchild, one sister, Kathleen Ridge and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Eleanor is also preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Mary Dunleavy Ferry, four brothers, (Dr.) Nicholas F., James F., Gene F., and Hugh F., Jr.
Eleanor had many talents, perhaps the most notable being her gift for crafting words. She produced a hundred or more incredible poems, any of which is easily worthy of publication even though she refused to entertain that idea. One of her poems is shared here, in which, with tongue in cheek, she lists a few of the questions she was saving for this day. Those of us who knew and loved her know, that if any mortal could hold our Creator’s feet to the fire, it would be Eleanor.
Services will take place privately and interment of ashes will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the St Jude Children's Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place Memphis TN 38105. Arrangements under the direction of the COSTANTINO-PRIMO FUNERAL HOME, BERLIN NJ. To leave lasting condolences or photos, please use the links on this page.
