Eleanor Maigret Dery

Eleanor Maigret Dery of  Tega Cay, SC passed peacefully at the age of 96, on January 30, 2021, from natural causes in her home.  Eleanor (Ellie) was holding Ed’s hand when she took her last breath this side of heaven.

Eleanor was born on Dec 20, 1924, daughter of Gustave and Melina Zele Maigret in Torrington, CT.  She attended St. Francis School and Torrington High School, graduating in 1942.  She worked for the Torrington Branch of the American Brass Co., in the Cost Dept. in Torrington and later at the Waring factory in Pine Meadow and the Hasselbach chocolate store in Avon.  Her final career was in banking where she started as a teller and worked her way up to Branch Manager and Officer of the Simsbury Bank, Canton, CT, later known as the Bank of America. 

Ed and Ellie were married in June 1951, and together they raised their children on Johnny Cake Lane in New Hartford, CT.  In addition to her husband Edmund, Eleanor is survived by four children, Melina, married to James Marshall, Conway, SC; David Dery, New Hartford, CT; Leon Dery married to Laurie Marinan Dery, Avon, CT; and Marian, married to Sean Cronin, Fort Mill, SC; a sister Joan Dery, Falmouth, VA; and a sister-in-law, Anne Maigret, Torrington, CT.  Eleanor had 10 grandchildren. She was the beloved Memé to Jason Poucher, Tracy Warner, Erin Mitchell, Bryan Marshall, Brad Marshall, Eve Dery, Shawna Godenzi, Jessica Kayser, Emilee DiMenna with 13 great grandchildren and Great Memé to Adrianna and Andrew Marshall, Jaeden and Kamryn Poucher, Kalie Dery and Jaeden Lemelin, Adrianna Godenzi, Ryan and Alyssa Warner, Peyton Hayes, Zoey and Jacob DiMenna, and Jackson Mitchell. She is predeceased by three brothers, Bernard, Roger, and Leon Maigret; a sister, Dolores Maigret Dery; and a granddaughter, Heather Hayes.

Ellie enjoyed hiking, skiing, square dancing and country western dancing and traveling. Ellie and Ed started downhill skiing while they were in their 60’s. They were fortunate to ski in the French Alps and the Colorado Rockies.  They were blessed to travel to Europe, including the village where Ellie’s mother was born, and to Hawaii and across the country.  Eleanor was an avid reader. She read the newspaper every day and hundreds of books. Eleanor loved having her family gathered to relish one of her specialty meals and homemade cookies.  There were many fun family holidays, including an annual Mothers’ Day brunch at the Log House Restaurant.  Ellie remained close with a group of girls she worked with at the Brass Mill.  She enjoyed the ladies’ sewing group of the neighborhood for many years.   Inspired by Ellie’s parent’s Pinochle Club, they were part of their “club” group of about six couples with whom they vacationed and socialized in their homes monthly to play various card games, etc. for decades.  She enjoyed playing cribbage until recently.  Ellie had an extremely positive outlook on life.  She was dearly loved by her large and extended family and numerous friends far and wide.

In 2007, Ed and Ellie moved to the Four Seasons Adult Community in Fort Mill, SC to and later to Wellmore of Tega Cay, SC, an Assisted Living Facility, where they maintained a great degree of independence together and were also well cared for in their small apartment. Ellie visited with her daughter Melina less than 24 hours of passing.

Eleanor was a communicant of St Francis Church, Torrington, CT; The Immaculate Conception Church, New Hartford, CT; and St Philip Neri Catholic Church, Fort Mill, SC.

There will be no memorial service in South Carolina due to health restrictions.  A Mass will be said in Eleanor’s honor at St Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill, SC on Wednesday, March 3rd at 9:30 AM.  Burial will be held after the passing of Ed, and arrangements will be handled by the Montano-Shea Funeral Home in New Hartford, CT for a Funeral Mass and/or burial by the Immaculate Conception parish in New Hartford followed by a reception, according to state health restrictions at that time.

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to The Immaculate Conception Church, 60 Town Hill Rd., New Hartford, CT 06057, or St Philip Neri Catholic Church, 292 Munn Rd. E, Fort Mill, SC 29715, or The Haitian Health Foundation, c/o Dr. Lowney, 97 Sherman St., Norwich, CT 06360.

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