Eleanor Cooney

Eleanor Cooney, age 95, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 29, 2021.

The firstborn of John and Consuela (Hudak) Geissler’s three children, Eleanor was welcomed into this world in May of 1926 in Queens, NY. She grew up in Queens along with her twin sister Helen and younger brother John. She later moved to Massapequa on Long Island.

Blessed with beauty and charm, Eleanor’s first job out of high school came via a career in modeling in New York City. She later accepted a secretarial position at Union Camp in New York City. It was there that she would eventually meet a handsome gentleman named Daniel Cooney, Jr. They fell in love and married in June, 1948 in a church in Queens, NY. Eventually, her husband Dan was transferred to Union Camp’s new location in Wayne, NJ. So, the whole family moved across the river and settled in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne.  Eleanor became a mortgage processor at RFC Bank in Wayne. She was an expert in English grammar, and later worked as an editor at Western Publishing, also located in Wayne, before retiring. Despite various work outside the home, Eleanor was primarily a loving and dedicated mother to her five children and enjoyed being a homemaker.

Eleanor had numerous hobbies and pastimes.  She was an excellent seamstress. Eleanor was also a magnificent artist whose works could compare to known great artwork. She loved rooting for her New York Mets, and keeping her mind sharp by challenging her wits with the crossword puzzles in the New York Times, sometimes while enjoying a glass of fine wine. She derived great pleasure from outings to Atlantic City, and, even up to only a couple of years ago, Eleanor would have no problem keeping up with those decades younger than her. In fact, Eleanor was always up for a trip or an adventure. She loved being social and had no desire to sit home.

Eleanor was a parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne. She loved going to church and adored her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her two dogs – Lola and Candy. With her outgoing personality and vivacious presence, she touched the hearts of many and will be greatly missed.  Eleanor loved all her nieces and nephews, and her extended family was large and cherished.  All loved her and knew her as “Nan,” or “Auntie.”

Eleanor was the beloved wife of Daniel Cooney, Jr., blessed in marriage for 50 years until Dan’s passing in 1998. She was the loving mother of Eleanor Schiano and husband Ralph of Wayne, Helen Mueller and husband Richard of Wayne, Daniel Cooney, III of Wayne, the late Carol Ann Cooney (1974), and Robert Cooney and wife Michelle of Wayne; adoring grandmother of: Kristen, Michelle and husband George, Karen, Matthew and wife Mariella, and Michael; cherished great-grandmother of Noah and Willow; dear sister of the late Helen Dwyer and John Geissler; and dear aunt of numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Eleanor’s name are asked to consider a donation in her memory to
Spina Bifida Association
1600 Wilson Blvd Suite 800
Arlington,VA 22209
To print out mail in donation form CLICK HERE

To donate online, CLICK HERE

You can also donate by calling 202-618-4754