Eleanor Emma Veleber, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, was born in Sutherlin, Oregon on July 24, 1923. Mom went to be with her Lord and Savior, passing away peacefully at Home Place in Oak Harbor on April 13, 2017.
Eleanor graduated from Myrtle Point High School and entered St. Cabrini School of Nursing in Seattle. While there, she met “Andy” at Calvary Lutheran Church in Seattle and they were married at Calvary on April 4, 1943.
She raised her family and later began working for the City of Seattle Health Department as a clerk and seamstress. Mom was the organist at Beacon Lutheran Church in Seattle for many years, was active in the church’s Women’s League and bowled on the church team.
She and Andy moved to Whidbey Island in 1982, when Andrew retired. They spent many of their retirement days traveling around the world. In her spare time, her hobby was sewing. She spent many hours stitching creative pillows, Christmas ornaments and stockings for her children and grandchildren.
Mom was a loving mother who helped her children to become successful in school and always kept dinner warm for her sons when they would come home late after participating in after-school sports. While on Whidbey, Mom would graciously host large family get-togethers each summer, where we all enjoyed visiting with one another and playing gregarious games of croquet.
She is survived by her daughter Dorothy (Les) Thorsen; sons John and Robert Veleber; and seven grandchildren, Sheryl Thorsen, Anne-Marie Thorsen, Margo (Andrew) Peterson, Jamie (Aaron) Calhoun, Jeremy (Jennifer) Veleber, Joseoh (Susan) Veleber and Nicholas (Brianna) Veleber.
She is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Brooke and Brynn Peterson; Noah, Sam and Meredith Calhoun; and Molly and Cole Veleber.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Maltby (Snohomish). Graveside services were held at Pacific Lutheran/Washelli Cemetery earlier in the day.
Memorial remembrances may be made to Shepherd of the Hills, Concordia Lutheran Church in Oak Harbor or Hospice of Whidbey Island.
