Eleanor Mae Phillips

August 26, 1935 - October 27, 2023

Eleanor Phillips passed away in White Rock at the age of 88.

She was predeceased by John, her husband of 55 years, in 2012. Eleanor is survived by her five children, Heather (Rob), Beth (Bent), Jonathan (Jess), Cathy (Martin), and Wendy (Dave).

She was affectionately referred to as "GG" by the extended family and very proud of her 18 grandchildren and their partners, and 18 great grandchildren.

Eleanor was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and grew up in Indian Harbour, Halifax, and North Sydney/ Cape Breton Island (during World War II). As a youth, she enjoyed school, local Christmas concerts, ice skating, square dancing, lobster boils, picking huckleberries/foxberries/mussels, softball, and swimming and rowing in the ocean.

In 1948, Eleanor started boarding school at Convent of the Sacred Heart in Halifax. In 1955, she graduated with a Bachelor in Science (Biology) from Dalhousie University. At Dalhousie, she met her husband John. They both were choral singers and participated in a number of operettas there. After university, she worked at the Victoria General Hospital Lab.

In 1957, Eleanor and John moved to Cambridge, England (for John's doctorate), which is where her first two children were born. In 1960, the family returned to Nova Scotia. The growing family with four children then moved to Vancouver.

She worked part-time as a Teaching Assistant at Simon Fraser University for four years and then had her fifth child. A number of years later, Eleanor and John returned to England (for sabbatical), along with all the children.

Eleanor had a strong religious faith. While she grew up in a mostly Baptist family, over the years, she attended St Helen's Anglican Church, Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church, and St. Faith's Anglican Church in Vancouver, and later the welcoming Mount Olive Lutheran Church in South Surrey.

Eleanor was a very active church volunteer, initially helping with hotdog suppers and children's classes, and then chairing the Worship and Music committees for many years.

At Mount Olive Church, she helped with the library book reviews. In the mid-1980's Eleanor began working on a Master of Theological studies programme at the Vancouver School of Theology.

Eleanor also became a volunteer in the Girl Guide movement. She served for over four decades in such positions as a Brownie Guider, Camp Guider-in-Charge and Secretary for a District Council.

Eleanor loved the many large family gatherings, with wonderful potlucks, and the frequent burst into song! She always looked forward to visiting with the family and friends in Nova Scotia. GG often attended her grandchildren's and great grandchildren's music concerts, figure skating competitions, dance recitals, hockey/soccer/rugby/flag football games, and school concerts. As well, there is an "Eleanor's Cup" - a family golf tournament held annually in her honour.

Eleanor will be missed dearly by her loving family and friends.

A service and reception will be held at 2:00 pm on December 28, 2023, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church at 2350 - 148th Street, Surrey.