3 August, 2015
Eleanor Elizabeth Brooks, of Hopkinton and formerly Holliston, died on July 29, 2015 when her heart gave out -full of gratitude and shortly after a small family reunion at her home. She was 94 years old. She was born in Ellis, Nebraska to Charles and Maud Hemphill in 1921.
Eleanor, being a sharp little tack, graduated from Beatrice High School at 14, and from
Peru State Teachers College at 18. She then taught high school for a year
before the love of her life, John Brooks of Holliston met her and wooed her,
and eventually brought her back to Brooksmont Farm in Holliston, where they
were married in 1940. They then had three sons to whom she was a devoted
mom.
She was active at the Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) in
many ways. She actively participated in the Mary E. Wells club as an officer
for decades, she baked and knitted for numerous fundraisers, and basically
offered her head, heart, and hands in any and all ways she was called to
service.
Eleanor seemed to have an unending supply of active goodwill. Photos of her
and her husband in their prized garden on route 126 were in the papers more
than once, and townspeople would comment on how often they would see them
working in that garden, weeding, harvesting, and of course picking her
raspberries that she shared so freely.
Soon after her husband John died in 2009 she moved to Golden Pond in
Hopkinton, where she made a whole new circle of friends including her devoted
caregiver Jeannine Smith.
She was the wife of John P Brooks for nearly 65 years, the sister of Neva
Krauter, Ruby Besack, Dorothy Claytor, and Clark Hemphill - all deceased.
Eleanor was the mother of Richard Brooks (recently deceased) and his wife
Dorothy of Mims, Florida; David Brooks and his wife Eileen of Bethesda,
Maryland; and Philip Brooks, and his wife Toni of San Francisco. She was
grandma to William Brooks of Effingham, New Hampshire, and his wife Teresa;
Terri Drew and her husband Dan of Ossipee, New Hampshire; Robert Brooks of
Titusville, Florida; Michael and Stephen Brooks of Bethesda Maryland; and
Danny and Sara Brooks of San Francisco, California. Her great grandchildren
are Courtney, Matthew, and Allison Drew of Ossipee,New Hampshire and Emilee and Christopher Brooks of Effingham, New Hampshire.
Visitation will be held on Monday, August 3rd from 10:30a.m.-11:30a.m. at the Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston, 854 Washington St. www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com A funeral service will follow visitation in the funeral home at 11:30a.m. A reception will follow the service in the Congregational Church in Holliston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Congregational Church, 725 Washington St. Holliston, MA 01746
