Eleanor (Ellie) Maynard
SAINT ALBANS: Eleanor (Ellie) Maynard, age 92, passed into her eternal life on January 29, 2024, at the Northwestern Medical Center, surrounded by the love of her children and grandchildren. At her death, Ellie was residing at Our Lady of the Meadows nursing facility in Richford. She was born Eleanor Louise Bourdeau on September 2, 1931, in St. Albans, VT to the late Emile Bourdeau and Pearl Burnham.
Ellie attended grammar school in a one-room schoolhouse in Sheldon Springs, VT. As a teenager, she moved to St. Albans to live on the farm with her grandparents, Isidore and Mary Bourdeau, where she attended Bellows Free Academy (BFA). She talked fondly of her days on the farm and the love and care she felt from living with her grandparents. In her sophomore year of high school, Ellie moved to live with her father and stepmother in Junction City, Kansas, but returned to BFA to complete her senior year, graduating in 1950; her high school yearbook described her as“tripping the light fantastic at the Saturday night dances, where she proved herself a smooth partner.”
On October 20, 1951, Ellie married John Dupuis and began raising a family. John predeceased her on July 20, 1961. Following John’s death, Ellie married Robert “Bob” Maynard on December 26, 1961, and continued to add to their family, raising six children. After 40 years of marriage, Bob passed away on August 26, 2001.
Ellie’s greatest joy was raising her children and spending time with her grandchildren. She was an enthusiastic and spectacular cook and when the “big kettle” came out, we knew we were in for “Mom’s” sauce and her traditional spaghetti dinner. She passed on her talent and love of cooking to her children and grandchildren. Ellie also enjoyed painting ceramics, quilting, gardening, and watching the variety of birds that visited her feeders.
As a young woman, Ellie was employed as an operator for the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. After raising her children, she worked as a sales clerk for the William Doolin Company. Ellie was a devoted Catholic and was a communicant of Holy Angels Church. She was a member of the Ladies of Saint Ann’s and the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation. She often provided her fabulous meals to the homeless shelters.
Ellie is survived by her five children: Marc Dupuis and his wife, Bev of Swanton; Paul Dupuis and his wife, Suzette of North Carolina; David Maynard and his wife, Cheryl Gregoire of St. Albans; Dawn Maynard Laroe and her husband, Jeff of St. Albans; Ellen Maynard O’Brien and her husband, Terry of Swanton; and, son-in-law, Timothy Coleman and his wife, Maureen of Swanton.
Ellie is also survived by her loving grandchildren: Taylor Dupuis Hensel and her husband, PK of North Carolina; Seth Coleman and his wife, Melissa of Swanton; Michael Dowling and his wife, Jacqueline of South Carolina; Meredith Laroe of Stowe; Nathan Laroe of St. Albans; Morgan Laroe and her fiancé, Chase Delande of Columbus, Ohio; Ian Sylvester of Swanton; Hillary Sylvester and her partner Peter Flanagan of Fairfax; Logan Sylvester of Tampa, FL; Kate Sylvester of Boston, MA; Rachael O’Brien Regalado and husband, Jacob of Utah, Shannon O’Brien Hochman and her husband, Joe of Washington; Michael Lovejoy and his wife, Patti of New York; Keith “Skeeter” Lovejoy of Swanton; and Brittany Lovejoy Spaulding of Montgomery.
Ellie also leaves great-grandchildren, “Fin” and Tabitha Hensel; Camilla and Callie Coleman; Max Dowling; Oaklee, Layla and Declan Regalado; Madeleine, Rita, Julia, and JP Spaulding; and Kailyn and Maddox Lovejoy.
Also surviving Ellie is a brother, Edward Bourdeau and his wife, Blanche of China, Maine; sisters-in-law, Carol Maynard Luneau and her husband, Roger of St. Albans; and Jacqueline Dupuis Sharrow of Illinois; brothers-in-law Guy Marcoux of Waterford, CT and Maurice Dupuis of Wisconsin; and special cousins, Robert, Steven, and Mary Samson; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husbands, John and Robert, Ellie was predeceased by her daughter, Camilla Dupuis Coleman on February 26, 1993; her father, Emile in 1981 and her mother, Pearl in 1985; stepmother, Bessie in 2014; sister, Beverly Bourdeau Cullen in 2020 and her spouse, Stan in 1987; brother Richard Bordo in 1995; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Hubert and Nellie Maynard; sisters-in-law and their respective spouses, Patricia and Jose Guevara, Claire and William Owens; Evelyn Dupuis Marcoux; brothers-in-law and their respective spouses, Hubert “Topper” and Christine Maynard, and John and Rosamond Maynard.
Ellie is also predeceased by her most loving aunt, Leona “Nony” Bourdeau Samson whom she spent much time with as a child. Some of her happiest memories were summers on Samson’s Point, swimming in Lake Champlain, going to the barn, and of course, babysitting. As an adult, Ellie continued to spend many happy times with her Aunt Nony until her passing in 2012.
Calling hours for family and friends will be on Monday, February 5th from 4 – 7 pm at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main St., St. Albans, VT.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 6th at 2 pm at Holy Angels Church, 245 Lake Street, St. Albans. A burial celebration with the family will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Ellie’s memory be made to the Voices Against Violence, 23 Catherine St., St. Albans, VT 05478, or the National Alliance of Mental Illness, NAMI Vermont, 600 Blair Park Rd., Ste. 301, Williston, VT 05495.
Honored to be serving the Maynard family is Rett Heald of the Heald Funeral Home, where messages of condolence are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com
