Obituary of Eleanor S. Lewis

Eleanor Smith Lewis of Schenectady, New York, passed away after a brief illness on Sunday, February 26, with her family at her side. Eleanor was born February 3, 1923 in Deposit, New York. She attended Elmira College and obtained her nursing degree from Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 1948. She worked as a registered nurse for Samaritan Hospital in Troy and Ellis Hospital in Schenectady before devoting herself to childcare as a mother, as a babysitter and as a nurse for the Eastern Parkway United Methodist Church daycare center. Eleanor lived a long and fulfilled life. She married at the end of World War II, and she and her husband David began their lives together in the tumultuous years after the war. She delighted in raising her children and in being with her extended family in Deposit. She loved to swim and to spend her summers basking in the sun, first at Oquaga Lake and in later years at Indian Lake. She had an inquiring mind and was interested in medicine, in medical novels, and in science in general. She loved card games and was masterful at crossword puzzles. Eleanor was a member of Eastern Parkway UMC where she was active in the choir for many years. Eleanor began singing and harmonizing with her brother and sisters when she was young and enjoyed singing and music to the end of her days. Her greatest joy, however, came from caring for babies and children, and she was remarkable for her ability to soothe and understand them. She had a very special place in her heart for her son Timothy, for whom she provided special care throughout her life, and she was a devoted mother and grandmother. Eleanor was predeceased by her beloved husband, David MacArthur Lewis; by her brother Jack Smith, and by her sisters Doris Axtell and Gwen Joscelyn. She is survived by her children, Mark Lewis, Schenectady; Shelly Willard (Henry), San Francisco, CA; Kevin Lewis (Susan), El Granada, CA; Kirk Lewis (Barbara), Scotia, NY; and Timothy Lewis, Rotterdam, NY. She is also survived by four grandchildren Nathaniel and Brandon Lewis of California, Jack and Kerry Lewis of New York, and her dear friend Dorothy Davis of Raleigh, NC. The family wishes to give special thanks to her caregiver, Margie Wheeler, who together with Mark Lewis, made it possible for her to live in her home through the end of her life. The family also thanks Dr. Sanchez and the compassionate staff of the Ellis Hospital ER and the 6th Floor A wing for their patience, understanding and caring that made the last hours of Eleanor's life as peaceful as possible both for her and her family. Calling hours will be Friday, March 2, from 4 to 7 pm at Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union Street, Schenectady, NY. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 3, at 1 pm at Eastern Parkway United Methodist Church, 943 Palmer Avenue, Niskayuna, NY. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Eleanor Lewis be made to Schenectady ARC, 214 State St., Schenectady, or to Eastern Parkway UMC.