Obituary of Eleanor H. Johnson

Eleanor H. Johnson of 11 East Second St., Lakewood, NY, died peacefully in WCA Hospital Monday January 11, 2010, surrounded by her family. She was the widow of Andrew B. Johnson, whom she married September 25, 1948, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lakewood and who died May 13, 1973. Eleanor was born in Depew, NY, March 4, 1923 to Robert E. and Caroline J. Marki Hutchinson. She was a 1940 graduate of Kensington High School, Buffalo, NY and Harper Method Beauty School, Rochester, NY. Along with her mother and siblings, Eleanor moved from Buffalo to Lakewood in 1946, where she opened a small beauty shop. In addition to being a very loving and giving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and parishioner, Eleanor was active in the community and gave generously of her time and talents. She was a religious education instructor at Sacred Heart Church for many years. She also was a Cub Scout Den mother, served as an Election Inspector, delivered for Meal on Wheels and volunteered for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.). Eleanor was a member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Gertrude #92 and was recently recognized for being a fifty year member. She was also a member of the Altar and Rosary Society of Sacred Heart Church for a number of years, the Lakewood-Busti Golden Agers, where she served a term as its historian, the NYS Southern Tier Porcelain Artists and the Lakewood Memorial Post #1286 American Legion Auxiliary. Following her retirement in February 1983 from the Lakewood Post Office, where she was employed for twenty years, Eleanor enjoyed traveling with a group of local and Buffalo area friends and more recently enjoyed holiday get-togethers with her family that included a Caribbean cruise and trips to Nags Head, NC and Nashville, TN. Eleanor was most proud of her two grandsons and found much joy in seeing them grow and become successful young men. Surviving are two sons, Robert A. Johnson (Sue) of Erie, PA and Joseph M. Johnson of Lakewood, grandsons Ryan A. Johnson (Farzanah) of Hamilton, Bermuda and Kevin C. Johnson of Wrightsville Beach, NC, a brother C. John Ratzel of Cohoes, NY and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her husband she was preceded in death by her father in 1932, her mother in 1988, a sister Carol J. Hutchinson in 1977 and brothers Robert E. (Buddy) Hutchinson, lost at sea during World War II, 1944, Leonard J. (Hutch) Hutchinson in 1985 and Alfred P. Hutchinson in 1988. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in Sacred heart Catholic Church. Msgr. Joseph M. Dowdell will be celebrant. Friends will be received from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. The family Suggests Memorials be made to Sacred Heart Church, 380 East Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750 or a charity of choice.