Eleanor Louise Weirich (née Peiffer), 106, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2025, in Palmyra, Pennsylvania.
Born on July 14, 1918, in Lickdale, Pennsylvania, Eleanor attended public schools in Lickdale and then Jonestown, where she graduated with the class of 1935. She also graduated from the Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Lebanon in 1939, when she began a decades-long career as a Registered Nurse.
Eleanor loved to nurture plants, and in 1975, she completed a correspondence course in Modern Landscaping, which inspired her to cultivate ever more beautiful flower gardens around her mountain home. Alongside her husband Bob’s orchard and expansive vegetable garden, Eleanor’s flowers were featured in a 1996 Garden Tour sponsored by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lebanon County.
Eleanor made the absolute best Christmas cookies, and for family gatherings and any lucky guests in attendance, she often prepared feasts that included scrumptious pies for dessert.
She was the pianist and organist for many years at the only church in Lickdale, now known as Trinity UM Church, and she continued to attend regularly until she stopped driving about 10 years ago.
Ping pong and pinochle were games the family enjoyed, and Eleanor brought her gaming skills with her when she moved to Londonderry Village (formerly The Lebanon Valley Brethren Home) in Palmyra in 2004, where she embraced new friendships and activities with enthusiasm. She especially enjoyed participating in the Creative Writing class, where her essays received acclaim from the instructor.
Eleanor is survived by her son, Robert (Margaret); daughter, Elaine; daughter-in-law, Jane; grandchildren, Mark (Paige), Susan (Tom), Bobby, Emily, Sarah (Morgan), and Josh; and great-grandchildren, Luke and Ethan.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert; and her dear son, Richard.
May the memory of Eleanor’s long life bring comfort to those who knew and loved her.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the Londonderry Village – Di Matteo Worship Center, 1200 Grubb Road, Palmyra. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Salem Evangelical Cemetery, Ono.
