Mrs. Eleanor F. Calhoun, 103, died Friday at the Samaritan Medical Center.
There will be no calling hours. There will be a Spring Graveside Committal Service in Clayton Cemetery at a time and date to be announced.
Donations can be made in her name to your favorite charity.
Eleanor was born September 27th, 1913, in Watertown, the daughter of Manley and Alice Atherton Rusho.
She attended Clayton schools.
On August 22nd, 1930, she married Benson Calhoun Sr. in Ogdensburg. Mr. Calhoun died January 22nd, 1962.
Eleanor and her husband farmed on Grindstone Island until his death. She then worked for a number of years at the Clayton Central School in the cafeteria, where she worked in various capacities.
She lived in Florida for 17 years, returning to Clayton in 1990. While in Florida she worked in her daughter’s restaurant in Jupiter for 10 years.
Eleanor was a former member of the Eastern Star; she loved reading, gardening, and especially being with her family.
Surviving is one daughter, Elaine (Raymond) McGuire of Jupiter, Fl.; one son Ben (Karen) Calhoun of Clayton; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
One daughter, Loraine Elger, one brother, Leon Rusho Sr., and one sister Mrs. Carlyn Hammersley, all from Clayton, died before her.
Kathy Evans
Dear Ben, Karen, and family,
I am so sorry to hear about your mom’s passing. She certainly lived a loving long life. I am sure you will have many, many memories to remember her by. Sincerely,
Kathy Evans
Jim Hearne
Did not know Mrs. Calhoun, but anyone making it over 100 years old deserves an “ATTA GIRL!”
My Grandfather lived on Grindstone until he was about 14 years old after coming over from England when he was 2. Made it to 100 years old +3 days himself. Must be the Grindstone water?
Sorry for your loss and hope you have many good memories of her.
Sincerely, Jim Hearne
Cathy Hunt Saunders
Dear Ben,
I am so sorry to hear of your Mother’s passing. We lost Mother at 92, so we have both enjoyed our Mothers for a long time. I remember your Mother very fondly. She was a grand lady. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sherri (Tinney) Beswick
To my family,
We were truly blessed by having Eleanor Calhoun (my grandmother) in our lives. She had a way of making each and everyone of us feel special in her life. She always had time to sit and have conversations with you whether it was of the past or something of the future. She was the keeper of the stories in our family; she had a memory like no other and loved telling everyone jokes! Spending time on the island with her as a child was magical. On the hot summer evenings before bed we would go down to the river and take a dip to cool off. During the day she had a way of making the simple things so much fun whether is was picking vegetables from the garden, baking and making homemade jam from the berries we picked, planting flowers, going on picnics, catching fish from the dock, and even hanging up the laundry. She would push a chair up to the sink so that we were tall enough to help with the dishes and it was special because she made it that way. Grandma always made us feel welcome and at home with her no matter where we were, on Grindstone, in Clayton or in Florida. Home was where she was, with her family. She was everything I hope I can be, loving, caring, strong, capable, smart, funny and a person that got things done when they needed to be done. She was one of a kind and will be missed dearly.