Obituary: Eleanor Jane Greenlees

I am at the loss to try and summarize the seemingly ‘short’ 80 years that Eleanor was around. Not because it’s a struggle to find anything to say, quite the contrary, it’s more of the case that the task is nothing short of daunting.

The humanitarian traits that Eleanor epitomized could fill volumes. Not to mention her idea of a hobby would be most people’s idea of a full-time job. Impossible was nothing, the seemingly overwhelming, a minor annoyance. Her omnipotent personality was enough to power a small town. Always upbeat, encouraging, positive and steadfast. 

Eleanor was born in Whitehead, Sister to John, Grace, Jim and David Martin. Eleanor lived in Larne before following her fiancé Johnny Greenlees out to Chicago in 1956, before getting married in July the following year. Their three children David, Allyson and Bobby were born in Chicago before returning to Larne in 1964.

Eleanor didn’t have interests, she had passions. To say she gave 110 per cent in everything she did is a gross understatement. Although to witness her multitasking skills in action, you couldn’t help but scratch your head at how effortless managing chaos seemed.  Her enigmatic persona meant friends came easy. It could turn the simple chore of ‘getting a pint of milk down Main Street’ into an expedition lasting several hours. After popping in here to see so and so and greeting every second person she passed, from Emmerdale cast members to newsman, Bill Turnbull, Eleanor had many friends. Everyone greeted with the same enthusiasm, stories and family updates pleasantly exchanged, regardless of your generation, gender or religion. On occasion involving her family and friends and sometimes innocent bystanders in her next grand plan.  

Irish dancing was a significant part of Eleanor’s life, which she began at the tender age of six under the tutelage of Marjorie Gardener who became a life long mentor and friend. After she hung up her pumps she stayed heavily involved with the Irish dancing fraternity, holding every position in the committee and sometimes a couple at the same time.

Eleanor’s charity and voluntary contributions were endless. A 30-plus yearear memberof the Beacon Club mental health organisation, alongside her close friend, Moira Hutchinson. Together they ran buses, organised holidays to Butlins and day trips to Portrush for many in need. 

Eleanor’s most notable contribution to charity was her part in the inception and running of the Marie Curie Cancer Foundation support group. The organisation was started after Eleanor responded to an article in the local paper. The article stemmed from Alan Turner in 1999, a short time after Eleanor lost her brother and sister in law Mac and Jean Greenlees to the disease,

Eleanor, Peggy Rolandsen and Alan joined forces to raise some much-needed funds for such a worthwhile cause with everything from organising festivals, jumble sales, quizzes, church events, fundraisers, bake sales, coffee mornings, charity events, opening supermarkets like the Larne Asda, volunteering, concerts and street collections. No donation was too small, each and every little bit counted, and rarely a week went by where Peter Rippon from the Larne Times would get a phone call from Eleanor, alerting him to come photograph a cheque/cash donation from one organisation or another around the town.

Eleanor’s efforts were relentless, culminating in recognition from the Marie Curie Cancer Foundation with an award in 2009 for largest private, non-profit, charitable fundraising with an impressive total of a quarter of a million pounds in under 10 years. No mean feat by anyone’s standards. Add to this the fact that Eleanor herself never learned how to drive, but instead had a dedicated group of ‘chauffeurs’ who scooted her from one end of the town to the other.Literally as soon as any family member of friend successfully passed their test they were subjected to running Eleanor around. This helped coin Eleanor’s entire unofficial motto; “If there is an engine running!” Which essentially meant that no matter where you were going, Eleanor could squeeze in a relief mission of some description into your travel plans.

Another of Eleanor’s favourite pastimes was knitting. To watch her knit was a thing to behold. She could follow a pattern without looking at it. All whilst watching her beloved Man Utd take on their rivals, or staying up to all hours knitting and watching the snooker finals. If there was news of a baby being born or on its way the knitting needles would start clicking feverishly. Whole outfits churned out in a matter of hours. Eleanor’s custom knitwear has made it to more corners of the globe than most large retail chains.

Of all of her hobbies, interests and passions, her proudest accomplishment by far was her family. You only had to spend five minutes in Eleanor’s company to be well-versed in the lives of her daughter Allyson who lived four houses away, and sons David and Bobby in Atlanta Georgia on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Eleanor was a much loved grandmother to Steven, Caroline, Nicole, David, Zak, Courtney, Jake and Alannah; and a great grandmother to Annabelle.

She went to every Boys and Girls Brigade display, every school/church concert, every sports day, every athletics and swimming competition, every rugby

and hockey match they were participating in and never missed a birthday, Christmas or any other special occasion. Eleanor had the ability to make each and every one of us feel special in our on way.

Even at 60 years of age, when most people would be gazing longingly at retirement, the maternal trait was ever present and undiminished. Eleanor took in a nine-year-old child in need, ‘temporarily’ for three weeks. It wasn’t long before it was clear that she was fast becoming part of the family and the fostering long forgotten. After several years passed, the girl emerged a proud testament to Eleanor’s spirit.

Eleanor may be gone, but shall forever remain in the hearts of those that knew her. I know she would squirm uncomfortably being heaped with praise, but I feel it is justified when talking about her remarkable life and accomplishments. Seldom is there a person as selfless and all caring as Eleanor was. All we can try do is emulate her humanitarian spirit and proudly continue the legacy she left behind.

I know she would like to be able to personally thank all of those who donated £2,750 so generously to Marie Curie on Eleanor’s behalf in lieu of flowers after her death.

Steven Bell

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