Obituary of Rev. Dr. R. Elinor Hare

Rev. Dr. R. Elinor Hare, 84, of 165 Aldren Avenue, formerly of 93 East Summit Avenue, Lakewood, died Wednesday July 25, 2012, in her home. A Jamestown native, she was born January 8, 1928, a daughter of the late Melvin and Ruby Wheelock Bloomquist. She was a 1945 graduate of Falconer High School. Over the course of the next 50 years she graduated from several institutions of higher education. They include Jamestown Community College in 1969, SUNY Fredonia in 1975, Union Theological Seminary, New York City in 1977 with Masters of Divinity degree, John Jay College, New York City in 1980 with a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice and Drew University, Madison, NJ in 1995 with a Doctorate of Ministry. Her work history was just as varied as her education. She owned and operated Elinor's Beauty Shop in Lakewood for 20 years. She served several United Methodist Churches throughout her years of ministry including Buffalo First UMC, Buffalo, Butler Memorial UMC, Bronx, NY, Hanson Place Central UMC and Bethany UMC, both in Brooklyn, NY, St. Mark's UMC and Broadway Temple UMC, both of Manhattan, NY and, moving back to Lakewood in 1999, Lakewood United Methodist Church. In 1983 she founded Women's Advocate Ministry, Inc, working with the female inmates at Riker's Island Jail, New York City. She enjoyed music and singing. She formed and sang with the Good News Singers and the Parables. Surviving are two daughters Kathleen Parker of Jamestown and Colleen (Don Robert, Jr.) Stiles of Tipp City, OH; ten grandchildren Cynthia (Bryan) Wright of Santa Rosa, CA, Todd Parker of Santa Rosa, CA, Daniel Parker of Rockford, IL, Sarah (Brad) Palmer of Russellville, AK, Don Robert (Beth) Stiles III of Cedarville, OH, Ted Stiles of Russellville, AK, Elizabeth (Don) Rekowski of Ashaway, RI, and Benjamin (Priscilla) Stiles of Russellville, AK, Jennifer (Anthony) O'Hare of San Pan Valley, AZ and Mick O'Hare, Jr. of Gilbert, AZ; 15 great grandchildren and a brother and Robert (Peg) Bloomquist of Jamestown. She was preceded in death by a son Mick O'Hare, a sister Helen Hare and 3 brothers Charles, James and Walter Bloomquist. The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in Lakewood United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Levant Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood, NY or Lakewood United Methodist Church, 164 Shadyside Avenue, Lakewood, NY 14750. You may light a candle in remembrance of Elinor at www.lindfuneralhome.com.