Obituary of Eleanor Louise Reed
Age 90, of Joliet, IL, formerly of Toledo, IL, passed away Thursday morning, May 25, 2023, at Amita Health St. Joseph Medical Center.
She was born November 5, 1932, to the late Ferne (Rhoton) and Alfred McCall.
She is the beloved mother of Barbara Reed of Joliet, Brian Reed of Farmland, IN, and Patsy Tongren of Libertyville, IL; loving grandmother of Jeffrey (Mary Beth) and Jillian Tongren, and Brittany and Erik Rowley; proud great-grandmother, Evette, Charlie, and Anna Tongren, Niko Rowley and Ethan Weaver; one sister, Marjorie Moran of Whitehouse, TX.
Eleanor is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Charles Reed; her cherished daughter, Carla Rowley; and one sister, Evelyn Rooney.
Eleanor, known to her close friends and immediate family by her middle name Louise, had an infectious laugh and sunny disposition that brought a smile to everyone’s face. She was proudly employed as the first woman to nitrate TNT at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant in 1966, while despising the war that necessitated it. She had a soft spot in her heart for all children and empathized with those who had fallen down on their luck, treating everyone with respect and dignity, and offering assistance to folks who needed it, even at times when she could barely afford to. She never met a stranger and loved to talk to anyone who had time to converse. Eleanor loved music, especially southern gospel and jazz, and for many years was a reliable fixture at the Chicago Jazz Festival. She spent many hours in her car driving around the neighborhood, stopping to chat with her neighbors and friends and listening to her favorite songs. She had a loving and pure heart, always forgiving, with an uncanny ability to find humor in everything, which she often attributed to her Irish ancestry. She will be sorely missed.
While Eleanor would never think of asking anyone for money, it would certainly be her desire that anyone wishing to contribute to a cause to consider St. Jude Children's Hospital.
As it was Eleanor’s wish, cremation rites have been accorded and her final earthly remains will be interred with those of her husband Charles at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.
For information please call (815) 741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave a condolence.
