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Eleanor Kilcoyne Laprade passed away peacefully on December 29, 2018 in Pawleys Island, SC surrounded by her family and friends. Eleanor was born in Clinton, MA on September 12, 1923 into an Irish family of Morans and Kilcoynes, but spent her childhood and the early part of her adult life in neighboring Leominster, MA. Eleanor graduated from Leominster High School in 1941 and then Becker College. She married Bill (Butch) Laprade, her high school sweetheart, in 1944, and spent the war years in Miami where Bill served in the Navy. They moved back to Leominster after the war to settle down and raise their three children, Bill, Nancy and Bob. They had a wonderful marriage and family life of almost 68 years before Bill passed away in 2012. Without a doubt, Eleanor’s greatest joy in her life was her loving family. While nurturing her family, Eleanor volunteered in PTA and Catholic church activities, and cared for her parents, Nellie and Tom. Her enduring outside passion throughout the years was bridge, particularly enjoying the camaraderie with her close bridge club friends. In 1974, Dupont transferred Bill to Columbia, TN, and Eleanor’s migration began. They lived in Tennessee, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where they spent 26 years. Golf , garden clubs, and Welcome Wagon were Eleanor’s interests in those years. In 2000 they moved to Lexington, KY, and then Pawleys Island, SC to be near their daughter, Nancy. Nancy and Eleanor wrote Eleanor’s biography (“What a Life”) in 2017 to reflect on her “extraordinary ordinary” life. The introduction reads, “ My life has been chock full of love, family, friends, faith, laughter, and joy and the attempt to live each and every “ordinary” day in a loving and positive way.” Eleanor made many great friends throughout her life, mostly due to her endearing personality and her ability to connect with all people in a warm and personal way. Forever the proud and strong Irish gentlewoman, she listened to peoples’ stories and life journeys without judgement. Eleanor exuded love to all she met. All who met her opened up their hearts to her because she opened up to them. She maintained her deep faith in God from childhood until her last breath. Eleanor Kilcoyne Laprade leaves behind her three children, Bill of Seattle, Nancy of Pawleys Island, and Bob of Potomac, Maryland; their spouses, Mary Lou, Keith, and Rajani; four grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Smith Medical Clinic, Pawleys Island, SC (www.smithfreeclinic.org) or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) . The funeral service will be held at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church, Pawleys Island, SC, on Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 10:00 am. Sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

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Eleanor Kilcoyne Laprade

September 12, 1923 - December 29, 2018