Avis de décès de Eleanor-A. Hall - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

ROCKPORT - Eleanor A. Hall, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and curator of the Conway House for 38 years, passed away Monday, June 21, 2008, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Rockport. She was born April 23, 1923, in Rome, N.Y., the daughter of Joseph and Louise Argenziano Della Contrada. Eleanor was educated in Rome, N.Y., and was a 1941 graduate of Rome Free Academy. As a child, she assisted her father in his fireworks business and often accompanied him to shows throughout the upstate area. Her family recalls that on one occasion she had to light several bombs for the grand finale, as her father was burned during the show and could not light the remaining bombs. After high school, she went to work at Griffiths Air Force Base, Rome, N.Y. Her great sense of patriotic duty led her to enlist in the U.S. Navy as a WAVE. She attended Hunter College, New York City, and upon completion of her basic training, she was assigned to Brunswick Naval Air Station, BNAS. Eleanor was one of the first nine WAVES to be stationed at BNAS, and there served as an air traffic controller. While stationed at Brunswick, she met Marine Staff Sgt. Robert W. Hall, who became her husband of 62 years, and they chose to make their home in Rockport. Eleanor was very active in the lives of her children. She was a member of the Rockport PTA, Rockport Nursing Council, RHS Band Boosters, the Waves National, and Camden-Rockport Historical Society. She was a devote Catholic, member of the Camden Catholic Woman's Club and Parish Council of Our Lady of Good Hope. In her later years, she attended St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Rockland. In 1965 Eleanor worked as a personal assistant to Ambrose and Mary Cramer of Rockport. Her employment with the Cramer's led to a long career as curator of the Conway Homestead - Cramer Museum. A lasting memory of her family and friends is that she liked nothing more than to cook a large Sunday dinner and have her entire family together. Affectionately known as "Gree," she cared for her grandchildren and could be found supporting all of their athletic events, as well as campaigning for their political aspirations, and was said to be their biggest fan. Eleanor was predeceased by an infant daughter, Mary Jane Hall; two brothers, Samuel Contrada and Domonic Della Contrada; and three brothers-in-law, William McLellan, Eddy Kobza and Pat Mangino. She is survived by her husband, Robert Hall of Rockport; two daughters Marlene Hall of Owl's Head, and Doreen Duke and her husband, Robert, of Rockport; four sisters, Mary Mangino of Rome, N.Y., Philomenia Kobza of Buffalo, N.Y., Antoinette McLellan of Rome, N.Y., and Josephine McLellan and her husband, Donald, of Rome, N.Y.; one brother, John Della Contrada and his wife, Rita, of Rome, N.Y.; a sister-in-law, Anna Betts of Bangor; a grandson, Jonathan Duke and his wife, Joanna, of West Rock-port; a granddaughter, Gabrielle Ann Duke of Rockport; one great-grandson, William Jonathan Duke of West Rockport; several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, July 25, at St. Bernard's Cath-olic Church, 150 Broadway, Rockland, with the Rev. Mark Reinhardt officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camden-Rockport Historical Society, P.O. Box 474, Rockport, ME 04856. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland.