Obituaries

Eleanore Hunter passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness on March 25 with her faithful canine companion, Honey, by her side. Ellie grew up in Ithaca New York and was the daughter of William and Margaret Gredel who immigrated to New York City from Switzerland. Henry later became the president of the Ithaca Savings Bank and made their home on Ithaca Road. She loved Ithaca and enjoyed telling those she met of swimming across Cayuga Lake as a young girl.

It was on the day she arrived at Potsdam that a handsome Clarkson boy asked her to go for coffee. That night over a beer their story began. Ellie had a full life with her husband Malcolm. They built houses together for their business (Hunter Homes) and enjoyed many trips and adventures along the way that included flea markets, antiquing, motor home trips, and vacations to the Virgin Islands and Europe! After obtaining her teaching degree from Potsdam, Ellie enjoyed teaching second grade. She took time to raise their three children and later found a love of teaching special needs children at our local BOCES.

In recent years, she enjoyed raising alpacas and knitting for the alpaca farm. She was truly blessed!

Ellie was predeceased by her beloved husband of 53 years, Malcolm February 14th, 2011. She was never quite the same. If it is possible to die of a broken heart, she may have. She loved having family over to cook delicious meals for them and often said she wanted the fact that she made good gravy on her head stone! She is survived by her brother William Gredel. She has three children who will miss her dearly, John (Jane) Hunter of Homer, NY, Lynne Hunter of FL, and Carol (Jay) Engels of Lansing, NY. She will also be missed by her grandchildren Melissa Simmons, Tyler and Ashley Engels, James Hunter, Stacy Henson, David Hunter, and her four great grandchildren Jackson Henshaw, Violet Hunter, Marina Simmons, and Cameron Henson.

Calling hours will be held at The Lansing Funeral Home on Thursday March 30th from 4-6:00pm with a memorial to follow at 6:00pm. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Ellie's memory to either America's Vet Dogs, 371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787 (www.vetdogs.org), or Hospicare, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850. We are grateful to Honey for her devotion to Ellie, and to Hospicare for their support.