Eleanor Whiteley Gannon

P. Dean Homer Funeral Home A. Kay Welles Homer, Supervisor 1 Grovedale Lane RR02 Box 5-A Wyalusing, Pennsylvania 18853 Tel 570 746-1444 Fax 570 928-8116 Email pdh@epix.net OBITUARY Eleanor Whiteley Gannon, 87, passed away Saturday, November 19, 2005, at the Skilled Nursing Unit of the Memorial Hospital in Towanda. Eleanor was born June 2, 1918, in Richfield, PA, the daughter of Albert and Araminta Shelley Whiteley. She grew up in Selinsgrove and went on to receive a teaching degree in home economics at the Mansfield Normal School (now Mansfield University) in 1940. This is where she met her future husband, Max P. Gannon, to whom she was married from May 1942 until his death on Nov. 13, 1995. She briefly taught home economics in Troy as a young woman, and in later years, after raising her family, went on to serve as the Sullivan County Home Economist (Penn State Extension Service) for about ten years. Aside from her husband, Eleanor was pre-deceased by her four sisters— Olive, Mary, Anice and Betty— and brother, William. She is survived by her four children: Catherine Gannon, Endicott, NY; William A. Gannon, Harrisburg, PA; Mary Gannon Skillings, Wyalusing, PA; and Max P. Gannon, Jr., Athens, PA. She will be sorely missed by her nine grandchildren: Mark, Pamela, Genel, Cyndie, Jeremy, Krista, Katie, Allan and Jennifer. At the time of her death, Eleanor had 13 great-grandchildren with another on the way. Eleanor will be especially remembered for her giving and selfless nature. She was committed to her family and, in addition to being a loving wife, mother and grandmother, tirelessly served her church and community until declining health prohibited her from doing so. There was always a place at the Gannon table. As the wife of a long-time school administrator, Eleanor was known as a gracious hostess who welcomed faculty members, employees, neighbors and even down-and-out strangers to her home and dinner table. During the holiday season, one of her greatest pleasures was baking cookies and her popular cinnamon buns, delivering them to households throughout the Wyalusing area. As a conscientious member of the Wyalusing United Methodist Church, she was the accompanist for many years for the church’s Junior Choir and a long-time teacher of the pre-school Sunday school class. She was an active member of the United Methodist Women (formerly Women’s Society for Christian Service) and was a long-time and loyal member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Visitation will be hosted by the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home at 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing, on Tuesday evening, Nov. 22, from 5 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Wyalusing United Methodist Church on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 10 a.m. with committal services to follow at the Wyalusing Cemetery with the Rev. Diane E. Prentice, her pastor, officiating.. Following that, all are invited to a luncheon provided by the United Methodist Women in the community room of the Wyalusing United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions are directed to Wyalusing United Methodist Church, c/o Maxine Meteer, PO Box 217, Wyalusing, PA 18853 To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to homerfuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eleanor Whiteley Gannon, please visit our flower store.