Eleanor “Ellie” A. Joseph

February 8th, 2022

I knew Ellie as mom. I met her many moons ago at a movie theatre. On Tuesday morning there was a program called Reel Mom’s, the lights stayed half lit, the volume lowered and a girl to all the moms for every beck and call. I was said girl, ellie came with her daughter Wendy and her granddaughter Sasha. I don’t know who I fell in love with first, mom, Wendy or Sasha. They came every week and brightened my Tuesday mornings. Mom greeted me with hugs and a huge smile every time. They even came early from time to time so we could chit chat before the movie. A warm, kind, strong lady that I am so honored to have known.

~Airen
~Friend, Volo, IL

February 8th, 2022

I have to many memories but
Mrs J was my childhood

~Stacy weiss zeitz
~Friend, Brooklyn NY

February 8th, 2022

I love my bat mitzvah photo on the right with all of my parents friends, some neighbors, we grew up together, I was friends with their kids, babysitter to the small ones. This photo means so many things. This is Aunt Ellie in the center, to the left Uncle Jerry, my mom Faith. Eleanor and Jerry have known me since I was 6 years old, they were friends with my parents, Eleanor and my mom particularly close. My sister Robin and I grew up with Wendy and her brother Scott, in the row houses on Washington Street in Niles. Eleanor was everyone’s everything – surrogate mom, aunt, confidant, friend. Intelligent, lived life to the fullest, never stopped exploring, learning, the best sense of humor, and the best laugh, ever. She and Uncle Jerry were stylish, superb dancers, so much fun. Her greatest joys were her children and four grandchildren.

These past weeks as she declined, I ached not being home in Chicago. Wendy and I are truly sisters, me the big sister she didn’t have. We stayed in touch. This week, as Ellie was moving to hospice, Wendy asked me if I had a photo of our moms I could send. I found this one. This photo is from one of the best parties of my life – my college graduation party, where everyone from every facet of my life was under one roof.

At the center – Eleanor, Jerry, and my mom – who reveled in every moment. Jerry kibitzing with my gay guy friends, Eleanor having discussions with the ACT UP lesbian women’s caucus, and the laughs never stopped. Ellie and Jerry were among the last to leave, which is what they are doing here, clutching some of the treats from the goody gift bags I put together from Uncle Fun.

I have seen this family on every trip home to Chicago since I moved to California in 2005. They have loved and supported me, got me through the worst of my conflicts and estrangement with my parents and my sister; they filled the empty space and void where my blood family wasn’t. Eleanor not only never judged – as she still loved my mother – she counseled me, she listened, she loved. You will hear this from anyone who knew and loved her. I love this family with every fiber of my being – Jerry, Wendy, Henrik, Sasha, Lucas and know how much they will miss her.

~Sharyl Holtzman
~Childhood family friend, San Pedro, CA

February 7th, 2022

There are so many memories that i remember of my Aunt Elllie. She was such an amazing woman. I remember one time when me and my family went to visit my Aunt Ellie and my Uncle Jerry and I was so excited to see my cousins that I just started running through the house upstairs to go see my cousins that I just ran past them without giving them a hug hello and all Aunt Ellie said is “what, no hug?” I of course went back and gave them both a big hug and then went upstairs to my cousins.
We lost touch for a long time and i finally got back in touch with my cousin Wendy. My mom, me, and my kids went to chicago to visit around 2009. We drove up to my cousins house and got out of the car and I was immediately greated by 2 kids (Sasha and Lucas). As we were walking up to the house Wendy came outside and as soon as we saw each other we cryed. I then saw Aunt Ellie and Uncle Jerry and gave the biggest hugs to both of them. That was 13 years ago.
I just want the family to know that they are in my thoughts and prayers always and i love them all.

~Esther (Joseph) Carpenter
~Niece, Glendale Az