Obituary, Eleanor G. McLaren

 

Eleanor G. McLaren, beloved wife of the late Edward W. McLaren Jr., passed away on August 18 after a brief illness. Eleanor was born in New London, on August 12,1925 to the late Elwood L. and Mildred (Peckham) Glover. She has been a Danbury resident since moving here in 1935 following her father’s transfer from Great Barrington MA as an employee of the New York-New Haven Railroad.
Eleanor graduated from Danbury High School and the Crandall Secretarial School. She started her career working as a secretary at The Barden Corporation, and subsequently moved to take a three-year position in New York City and Bronxville, NY. She later returned to Danbury to work once again for The Barden Corporation as an executive secretary for the Vice President of Sales.
In 1960, she married Edward W. McLaren Jr. and settled into their 1849 antique home. Following the birth of their son, Edward III, they moved to Bridgewater, MA briefly for three years but returned to their home in Danbury in 1968. After raising her son, she returned to work at the Superior Court in Danbury for 10 years as a judge’s assistant before retiring permanently to enjoy retirement with her husband Ed.
Eleanor was a member of the Danbury Garden Club for 39 years, where she made many life-long friendships. She often commented that her Garden Club friendships, experiences, and volunteer opportunities were so personally rewarding to her. Over the years, Eleanor was also active with Ed in antique car club activities, during which they traveled far and wide in their vintage cars, and met scores of wonderful friends with similar interests in historical cars, places, and other antiques. Eleanor and Edward were members of Christ Church on Quaker Hill, Pawling, NY and enjoyed the worship services and many friends there immensely.
She is survived by her only son, Edward W. McLaren III, his wife Dawn, her two grandsons, Colin and Aidan, her sister Norma Whitlock and her husband, Jim, and her four nieces. Her grandsons were her delight in her later years.
The family wishes to acknowledge the absolutely extraordinary care Eleanor received in her final days at Hancock Hall.
Funeral Services will be held at 247 White Street, Danbury, on Tuesday, August 22nd at 11:00a.m. with Rev. Mark Allan of Christ Church on Quaker Hill officiating. Burial will follow in Wooster Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, August 21st between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Church on Quaker Hill, 17 Church St. Pawling NY 12564 or to the Danbury Garden Club Scholarship Fund, c/o Danbury Museum, 43 Main St. Danbury, CT 06810. 

Author: Harlem Valley News