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December 15, 2011
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 1-6 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 9 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, then at 10 AM a funeral mass will be offered at Our Lady of the Valley, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey.
She will be laid to rest with her husband, Harold, at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey.
A repast will be held at the Crow’s Nest in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Elinor Grace “Ellie” Gesner (nee Scheckenback) age 94 of Moonachie peacefully passed into the presence of her creator on December 14, 2011 at Prospect Heights Care Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Elinor was born prematurely at her family residence in 1917. Weighing less than two pounds at birth, her family physician declared that there was little hope of baby Elinor’s survival. She was so tiny that her first crib was actually a cigar box. Her family patiently fed their new baby through an eyedropper. In those early days, her mother put her to sleep behind the family’s coal stove to keep her snug and warm in the family’s cold-water flat. Throughout her early years, Elinor suffered through a number of health issues, but as she matured her health gradually improved. History now bears witness that she has long outlived all of her siblings and the doctor who predicted her early demise.
Elinor is predeceased by her sisters Annamae Havecker, Magdeline Donfield, and Viola Spataro.
She grew up in a modest neighborhood in Little Ferry as part of a very loving and caring family. Her father provided for the family well as the driver of a horse-drawn beer wagon. Elinor became a skilled seamstress and obtained a job at the Jonathon Logan Coat Factory where she was charged with the creation of sample clothing.
In 1957, while visiting a neighbor wishing to sell a bedroom set, Elinor met her future husband, Harold Gesner, a decorated World War II veteran who served under General Patton in numerous campaigns. After a brief courtship, they married on April 11, 1959, and had thirty-five years of a good and loving marriage until Harold’s passing in February, 1995.
Although she had no children of her own, a central focus of Elinor’s life was her family, to which she was extremely devoted. Over the years, she helped to love and nurture the children of her extended family and friends. Elinor also enjoyed cooking and, having grown up in a modest background in frugal times, could whip up a good dinner out of almost nothing.
One of Elinor’s greatest gifts in life was that of a wonderful personality. It was easy for her to strike up conversations with others who enjoyed being in her presence. This gift stayed with her to the end of her days as she spent considerable time talking with her great-great nephews and nieces up through the recently concluded Thanksgiving holiday. Until the very end of her life, asking Elinor about events in her lifetime, would elicit detailed, amusing stories about events long forgotten by many, but kept alive in her memory. Until the very end of her life, Elinor lived independently in Moonachie where she had resided for more than fifty years.
Elinor maintained a strong devotion to her Roman Catholic faith, following precepts set down by the early church fathers. She always provided a wonderful example of being a good Christian, living humbly as commanded by Peter in his first letter and embodying the words of Paul in his letter to the Philippians by being content in all the circumstances of her life. Whenever trials and tribulations of life arose, she would often pray, lighting votive candles at home or in church to focus her attention.
Elinor is survived by one niece, Mary Jane Kowalski, and her husband Ronald of Wayne, New Jersey, and one nephew Robert Havecker, and his wife Noreen of Old Bridge, New Jersey, and a considerable number of great and great-great nieces and nephews. All will cherish the memory of their beloved Aunt Elinor. To quote her nephew Ron, “If the world was populated with people like Aunt Elinor, it would be a perfect place.”
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 1-6 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 9 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, then at 10 AM a funeral mass will be offered at Our Lady of the Valley, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey.
She will be laid to rest with her husband, Harold, at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey.
A repast will be held at the Crow’s Nest in Hackensack, New Jersey.
December 15, 2011
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 1-6 PM.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 9 AM from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, then at 10 AM a funeral mass will be offered at Our Lady of the Valley, 630 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey.
She will be laid to rest with her husband, Harold, at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey.
A repast will be held at the Crow’s Nest in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Elinor Grace “Ellie” Gesner (nee Scheckenback) age 94 of Moonachie peacefully passed into the presence of her creator on December 14, 2011 at Prospect Heights Care Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Elinor was born prematurely at her family residence in 1917. Weighing less than two pounds at birth, her family physician declared that there was little hope of baby Elinor’s survival. She was so tiny that her first crib was actually a cigar box. Her family patiently fed their new baby through an eyedropper. In those early days, her mother put her to sleep behind the family’s coal stove to keep her snug and warm in the family’s cold-water flat. Throughout her early years, Elinor suffered through a number of health issues, but as she matured her health gradually improved. History now bears witness that she has long outlived all of her siblings and the doctor who predicted her early demise.
Elinor is predeceased by her sisters Annamae Havecker, Magdeline Donfield, and Viola Spataro.
She grew up in a modest neighborhood in Little Ferry as part of a very loving and caring family. Her father provided for the family well as the driver of a horse-drawn beer wagon. Elinor became a skilled seamstress and obtained a job at the Jonathon Logan Coat Factory where she was charged with the creation of sample clothing.
In 1957, while visiting a neighbor wishing to sell a bedroom set, Elinor met her future husband, Harold Gesner, a decorated World War II veteran who served under General Patton in numerous campaigns. After a brief courtship, they married on April 11, 1959, and had thirty-five years of a good and loving marriage until Harold’s passing in February, 1995.
Although she had no children of her own, a central focus of Elinor’s life was her family, to which she was extremely devoted. Over the years, she helped to love and nurture the children of her extended family and friends. Elinor also enjoyed cooking and, having grown up in a modest background in frugal times, could whip up a good dinner out of almost nothing.
One of Elinor’s greatest gifts in life was that of a wonderful personality. It was easy for her to strike up conversations with others who enjoyed being in her presence. This gift stayed with her to the end of her days as she spent considerable time talking with her great-great nephews and nieces up through the recently concluded Thanksgiving holiday. Until the very end of her life, asking Elinor about events in her lifetime, would elicit detailed, amusing stories about events long forgotten by many, but kept alive in her memory. Until the very end of her life, Elinor lived independently in Moonachie where she had resided for more than fifty years.
Elinor maintained a strong devotion to her Roman Catholic faith, following precepts set down by the early church fathers. She always provided a wonderful example of being a good Christian, living humbly as commanded by Peter in his first letter and embodying the words of Paul in his letter to the Philippians by being content in all the circumstances of her life. Whenever trials and tribulations of life arose, she would often pray, lighting votive candles at home or in church to focus her attention.
Elinor is survived by one niece, Mary Jane Kowalski, and her husband Ronald of Wayne, New Jersey, and one nephew Robert Havecker, and his wife Noreen of Old Bridge, New Jersey, and a considerable number of great and great-great nieces and nephews. All will cherish the memory of their beloved Aunt Elinor. To quote her nephew Ron, “If the world was populated with people like Aunt Elinor, it would be a perfect place.”
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