“I Loved Every Minute of It”
– Eleanor V.
Settled on a street she has called home her entire life, Eleanor welcomed us into her well-loved living room filled with photographs, memories, and roots that run deep.
We were immediately smitten. Warm, gracious, and quick to share a laugh, Eleanor didn’t miss a beat, eagerly sharing treasured stories from a life she reflects on with remarkable gratitude.
“I don’t know why you’d want to hear all this baloney,” she told us with a smile. “But it was my life, and I loved every minute of it.”
At nearly 102 years old, what a gift it is to be able to reflect on a life so well lived.
Eleanor’s story began just a few doors down from where she was born. She moved next door at the age of four, and years later, with the help of her father, she and her husband built the very home where we sat talking.
As fate would have it, her future husband lived right next door, making this street a place that holds the vault of memories to Eleanors life.
“My sisters used to tease me that I married the boy next door,” Eleanor recalled with a chuckle.
Married to Frank for 58 years, Eleanor built a life centered on family, faith, and tradition. Together they raised their son and created a home that became a gathering place for generations.
One of nine children—eight girls and one boy—Eleanor was raised in a close-knit Italian family. Today, she is the last surviving sibling, though the memories they created together remain vivid in her heart. She recently endured the loss of her only son. Yet through every chapter of her life, whether joyful or despondent, gratitude remains at the forefront.
Deeply rooted in Italian traditions, family was never simply important—it was everything.
“We would argue,” Eleanor explained. “We could say things to each other, but nobody could say anything about us in front of us.”
Holiday gatherings were abundant, and Memorial Day was among the family’s most treasured traditions. After visiting loved ones at the cemetery, the family would gather for lunch before spending the afternoon together. Folding chairs lined the lawn while cousins played and adults talked, celebrating the summer of adventures that lay ahead. For Eleanor and her family—it was about being together.
As Eleanor stirred up memories of her childhood, we walked through a shared history, reminiscing about a large garden planted and cultivated by family, filled with fruit trees and vegetables that nourished the family year after year. Though we didn’t appreciate the roles we had to play as young children, those collective memories, wrapped in love, family and shared experiences, have become some of the most treasured.
“My younger sister loved raw carrots,” Eleanor remembered. “While we were digging vegetables, she would carry a clean wet paper towel so she could wash a carrot and eat it while she worked. We used to call her Bunny.”
“We had very little for material things,” Eleanor told us, “but we had the greatest love and the most wonderful life.”
As she continued to reflect on life, Eleanor spoke about a world that feels very different from today.
“This isn’t the world I was born in,” she said. “I was born in a beautiful world.”
She recalled playing games until dark, swimming and ice skating at the local pond, roller skating to run errands, and going to the movies with friends. She fondly remembered neighbors helping one another during snowstorms and how everyone knew everyone.
“It was nice,” she said smiling and looking down as if replaying the scenes in her mind.
Frank shared that same sense of purpose and community. After serving his country during the war, he returned home determined to serve his town. He achieved exactly what he set out to do, building a career with the town while continuing to build a life centered around family.
Today, that legacy continues.
Cousins remain close. Nieces and nephews gather often. Family traditions are still celebrated, and the love Eleanor helped foster continues to connect generations.
Her granddaughter describes her best.
“She’s instilled in me a work ethic, loyalty, respect, and treating people the way you want to be treated,” she said. “I’ve been blessed to have her in my life for so long. She’s my rock.”
Eleanor’s compassion extends beyond family. She also spoke warmly about her ABC caregivers.
“They’re more like friends,” she said.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without asking the question everyone wants answered.
What’s the secret to living a long life?
“I have no idea,” Eleanor laughed. “All of a sudden I’m an old lady.”
After sharing a laugh together, we asked if she had any advice for younger generations.
“Find a nice goal that you’d like to reach,” she said. “Follow your heart and always remember to do things the right way, and you’ll be fine.”
As we swapped stories about gardens, homemade wine, tomato sauce, and family traditions, the conversation felt less like an interview and more like an afternoon spent with family. We could have talked all day—and it seemed Eleanor would have welcomed every minute of it.
As she prepares to celebrate her 102nd birthday, Eleanor remains surrounded by the people she loves most—a testament to the life she has built and the love she has given so freely. Her story reminds us that a meaningful life isn’t measured by wealth, possessions, or professional accomplishments. It is measured by family, by the traditions we preserve, by the relationships we nurture, and by the love we leave behind.
And if Eleanor’s life teaches us anything, it’s that a life filled with love is truly a life well lived.
