Eleanor “Ellie” Veale of Manchester, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 9, at the age of 94, surrounded by family and the loving staff at River Woods Manchester.
Ellie was born March 6, 1932, in Everett to Harry and Margaret (Gerrie) Beats. She grew up with her sister Margaret and brother Jim in Everett but spent summers in Marblehead on Naugus Head. This is where she formed her love for the ocean and swimming. She would regularly go fishing with her dad and then roll up her sleeves to clean their catch for that night’s dinner.
Ellie was very proud of her Scottish heritage and loved visiting her family in Scotland as often as she could.
She met her husband Russell in 1956 during an Old North Church ski trip to Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. They formed a love for each other and the mountains taking regular trips on the ski train to North Conway where they skied with the famed Austrian instructors Hannes Schneider, Franz Koessler and Otto Tschol.
They were married in 1959 and raised their family in Marblehead. Ellie was very active in the community as a Boy Scout and Cub Scout den mother, a member of the Boosters Club and host of multiple team dinners for her sons Jim, Rob and David’s sports teams. She always put family before anything else, and proudly shared that she never missed any of her sons’ games.
Ellie spent her summers with her three boys at the Pine Knoll Campground in Albany, New Hampshire. She would help them prepare for the many hikes they enjoyed with their dad in the White Mountains or join in on a float down the Saco River or a lazy day at the beach on Lake Iona.
She laughed easily, and loved to play dominoes and spend time with her grandchildren, always a staple at sporting events, dance recitals and graduations.
In retirement Ellie and Russ moved back to where they met in North Conway, New Hampshire, and became very active in the Mount Washington Valley community. Their home became the unofficial headquarters in the early years of Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation, and they continued to volunteer for Jen’s Friends for years to come.
They also treasured their time working as chefs on the Polar Express spreading joy to all the families on board by singing Christmas carols as loudly as they could. They took every opportunity to play golf with their dear friends at Eagle Mountain and also traveled to different courses in northern New England as part of Julie’s Golf League. Ellie was often called Tee-Ellie by her friends because of her practice of using a tee off the fairway.
She kept busy by volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce and eagerly looked forward to the trips where she and other volunteers would go to an attraction or restaurant to “test” it out so they could share with visitors that came into the Chamber.
Most of all, Ellie treasured the years up north where all of the family would congregate for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Every bedroom was full, all the coffee pots at capacity, leaf in the dining room table, using every chair and stool available, she was happiest watching us make sledding tracks in the back yard, playing board games and eating together. We used the good china and silver because it was a special occasion to be under the same roof.
Ellie passed only 12 days after her husband Russell, a testament to their bond. She was also predeceased by sister Margaret Cross, brother Jim and her daughter-in- law Nancy.
She is survived by her sons Jim, Rob and David; daughters-in-law Lisa and Maria; grandchildren Keith, Nick, Matt, Micheal, Ben, Elizabeth and Annabel; great grandchildren Joseph, Zach, Miriam and Charlie; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held this summer, more details to follow.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Jens Friends Cancer Foundation in North Conway, New Hampshire, either at jensfriends.org or by check to Jen’s Friends, PO Box 1842, North Conway, NH 03860. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry is assisting the family with arrangements. To send a condolence or for more information, please visit peabodyfuneralhome.com.
