Eleanor J. Cary, 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at Poets Walk Memory Care in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She was born to Winfield Scott Miller and Stella Ray ‘Blackwell’ Miller in Trenton, New Jersey on January 9, 1928.
Eleanor was the youngest of two children by eleven years to her sister Ruth. Eleanor grew up in Trenton, New Jersey and developed a love for the countryside in contrast to the city where she spent her youth. She graduated from Maryville College (1949) in Maryville, TN where she majored in English and Latin.
After graduation from Maryville College she went to work as a librarian at the Trenton Library. The head librarian, Veronica Cary, introduced her youngest brother, Robert (Bob) to Eleanor. It was a match made in heaven and the two lovebirds were married May 16, 1953. They had nearly 65 years together until Bob died suddenly from a stroke in April 2018. Eleanor and Bob raised four children: Ellender, Robert A., Veronica R., and Thomas. After having their first child, Eleanor became a stay-at-home mom until their fourth child was in high school. By then, they had settled in northern Virginia and Eleanor went to work as an assistant librarian with Fairfax County Public Library. Eleanor received several promotions including: Reference Librarian and Cataloguing. She retired in 1993 and she and Robert moved from West Springfield, Virginia to the countryside of Stanardsville, Virginia. Robert built a custom home there for them on a large pond where they enjoyed their retirement years watching the wildlife, including an occasional bear family.
When Robert and Eleanor moved to Virginia in the early 1960’s, Eleanor became a Founding Member of the Providence Presbyterian Church in Annandale. She served on the church board and as church librarian until moving to Stanardsville in 1993. She then became an active member of Grace Episcopal Church in Stanardsville, VA serving on the board and as church librarian until around 2012. Eleanor was also active in several genealogical societies including: Colonial Dames XVII Century, Daughters of American Colonists, and National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She was thrilled to be able to trace her history to the early 1600’s in New York and New Jersey and traced three of her Revolutionary War patriots. She served proudly in the Albemarle Chapter NSDAR holding several different chapter officer positions.
Eleanor is survived by her children: Ellender and husband Hans Worthy; Robert A. and wife Cynthia; Veronica; and Thomas and wife Terry. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Elizabeth and husband Michael Pixley; Michael Cary and wife Samantha; Meghan and husband Thomas Brown; Cary Jean Weiss; Drake Cary and wife Sarah; and Savanah and husband Andrew. She is also survived by four great grandchildren: Cora Eleanor and Colin Norman Brown; Elsie Ray Cary; and Margaret Alice Cary.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 14 at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Noon on Wednesday, September 15 at Ewing Church Cemetery in Ewing, New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Mary Washington Hospice Care, 2300 Fall Hill Ave, Suite 401, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 or to the NSDAR Library, https://www.dar.org/giving
Your Mother Is Always With You By Deborah Culver
She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She’s the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself. She’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well. She’s your breath in the air on a cold winters’ day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow. She is Christmas morning. Your mother lives inside your laughter. She’s the place you come from, your first home. She’s the map you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy. But nothing on Earth can separate you. Not time. Not space. Not even death.