Eleanor Francis (Healey) Martin

Eleanor Healey McNamara Martin passed away on June 1, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. 

Born Eleanor Francis Healey on May 16, 1934, to Margaret Halloran & William Healey, she was raised in Ansonia and attended Assumption School, Ansonia High School and graduated with honors from Southern Connecticut State University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  She pursued graduate studies at Fairfield University.

On November 17, 1956, she married Raymond McNamara and they moved to Colony Street to raise their family.  Sadly, Raymond passed away of cancer in 1968, leaving her a widow at age 34 with five young children.

Eleanor taught Physical Education and Health at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in the Seymour, CT public schools.  During her 25 years in education, she also coached cheerleading and girls’ basketball teams, garnering many championship trophies.  She served as president of the Assumption Home School Association, was secretary and vice president of the Charter Hose Auxiliary and was a member of the Southern Connecticut Phys Ed Graduate Association.  She was an avid proponent of woman in sports and introduced the girls’ intramural programs at Seymour Middle School. 

On October 24, 1975, she married James Martin also of Ansonia.  Eleanor loved to travel with family and friends, visiting 5 of the 7 continents.  But her greatest pleasures were found watching her sons’ football games at Ansonia High School and Trinity College and spending countless hours on the bleachers of her grandchildren’s’ sporting or school events.  She also enjoyed participating in physical activities.  As a young adult, she played indoor tennis weekly, took up golf following her retirement and continued to walk daily into her 80s. 

In addition to her husbands, she was predeceased by her beloved son Patrick, and her sisters Mary and Nancy and stepson, Skip.  She is survived by her daughters Maura (Mark) and Eileen (Jim), her sons Timothy (Janice) and Terrence (Susan), her stepchildren Dori (Rich), Joyce (Joe) and Carol (Wayne), her grandchildren Cody, Travis, Jennifer, Wade, Kristen, Katherine, Maggy, Drew, Molly, Grace, Lily and Max, Philip, Robin, John, Carrie, Jamie, and Kelly.

She was the family matriarch and recognized the importance of family by celebrating the many milestones in all our lives together.  Eleanor was a strong, independent woman who weathered many challenges, but always found happiness and brought joy to others during her long life.  She will be dearly missed.

Calling hours will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday,  June 6th at The Jenkins King & Malerba Funeral Home, 12 Franklin Street  Ansonia.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Church of the Assumption, 61 North Cliff Street  Ansonia, CT on Tuesday, June 7th (DIRECTLY) at 10:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a contribution to Assumption School or the Patrick McNamara Memorial scholarship at Ansonia High School be considered.

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