Eleanor M. Mcnamara

Eleanor M. McNamara, 86, of 10660 S. Wayland Rd., Meadville, died Saturday, July 28, 2001 at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh following a brief illness.

She was born September 7, 1914 in Edinboro, a daughter of the late Charles Brady and Mary Edna Trow McLallen.  She married Albert Donald McNamara October 26, 1940 in Edinboro.

She was a graduate of the former Edinboro Normal School (now Edinboro University of PA).  She was a schoolteacher at Wayland Elementary Schools, East Mead Township at the beginning of her teaching career and in later years was a substitute teacher at various county schools.  She was a business partner with her self-employed husband in McNamara Farms and related companies throughout their working years.

She was a long-standing member of Calvary Baptist Church and served as its choir director for 14 years from 1959 to 1973.  She loved her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and devoted her life to honoring Christ and pointing others to faith in Him.  She loved and served her family faithfully.  She was a mother and grandmother spiritually and influentially to all who knew her.

She enjoyed homemaking and especially quilting and gardening.  She was a superb seamstress, musician, and wordsmith, writing poetry and prose even in her day-to-day correspondence.  She was a cracker-jack crokinole and croquet player who enjoyed humbling all competitors.  To know her was to be encouraged by her.  She modeled what it means to serve God and others as God’s formula for successful living.

Survivors, in addition to her husband of 60 years, include 6 children, Lea Ann Coston and her husband Bill of Meadville; Howard McNamara and his wife June of Bedminster, NJ; Scott McNamara and his wife Ruth of Meadville; Lois Byham and her husband Randy of Meadville; Mark McNamara and his wife Valentina of Meadville; and Bret McNamara and his wife Gloria of Meadville; 18 grandchildren, Todd and Eric Coston, Michael, Melissa, Mark, Daniel, Samuel, Frances, Stanley, Natalie, Elle, Clayton, Kyle, and Keri McNamara, Ann Reese, and Jack, Jeff, and Jay Byham; 3 great-grandchildren; and 1 sister, Ruth M. Mosier of Edinboro; and several nieces and nephews.   She was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Lawrence B., Franklin W., and C. Scott McLallen and 1 sister, Frances L. McLellan.

Calling hours will be Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville and Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 543 Randolph St., Meadville.  The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Rev. Douglas Messerall, Rev. David Maitland, and Rev. Dr. Howard McNamara, son, all officiating.  Several family members will assist in a service of tribute and praise.

Burial will be in Wayland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church Music Dept. or Calvary Baptist Christian Academy at 543 Randolph St., Meadville, PA 16335 or Wayland Cemetery Assoc., c/o Neil Bohnert, 12709 Leslie Rd., Meadville, PA 16335 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.