Obituary of Eleanor M Lloyd

Eleanor M. Lloyd, a retired teacher, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday morning, September 12, 2019. She was 95 years old. Eleanor was the daughter of Willian Duncan, a Canadian immigrant and Nellie Duncan, an Irish immigrant. She grew up in Burlington and was in one of the first classes to graduate from the newly established Burlington High School. She furthered her education at the University of Lowell where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education. Eleanor’s first teaching position was in Dighton Public Schools. The birth of her daughter, who had cerebral palsy inspired her to work with children with disabilities. First, at the Boston Children’s Hospital’s Convalescent Home in Wellesley. The home was an extension of the hospital and Eleanor taught students who were infirmed for an extended period. In 1961, She took a first grade teaching position at the Cotting School in Boston. The Cotting School served children with a broad spectrum of learning and communication disabilities, physical challenges, and complex medical conditions. Because Eleanor’s own daughter, Joan, was disabled, she had a God gifted ability to connect with her students as well as with their parents. In 1987 Eleanor was presented with the Distinguished Service Award which recognizes outstanding service by members of the Cotting School community. The inscription on the award denotes her as “faithful and exemplary teacher,” and proclaims: “her teaching made it possible for many children to have productive and happy lives. Her dedication and skill inspired her colleagues to nobler service.” Eleanor was a woman who’s life revolved around family. She was a loving and devoted wife of George M. Lloyd. The devoted mother to her beloved Joan. She showered her with love and dedicated her life caring for and bringing joy to her Joan. Joan’s disability brought Eleanor’s family closer together. Eleanor and family took Joan on cruises, traveled all over the United States in their Wheelchair van, and regularly vacationed at Hampton Beach and the beaches of Cape Cod. There were weekly luncheons at their favorite restaurants, birthdays, holidays, and countless family gatherings. The love Eleanor shared extended to her nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and even her great great nieces and nephews. As her life’s journey became more difficult in her later years, her family was at her side supporting and caring for her. Eleanor lived a life of love, kindness, and devotion.

Eleanor was the beloved wife of the late George Lloyd. She was the devoted and loving mother of the late Joan Frances Lloyd.

She was predeceased by her sisters; Frances Hayward, Irene Curtis, Mary Bennett, Alice Duncan, and June Ryan. She was the loving aunt of Alice Rodriguez of Burlington, John Bennett of FL, the late Mary McGinn, Walter Bennett, Joshua Bennett, and William Nielson. Eleanor was also survived by many great and great great nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Monday, Sept. 16 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Eleanor’s name may be made to the Cotting School, 453 Concord Ave, Lexington, MA 02421 or www.cotting.org. For directions obituary & online guestbook see www.stmargaretburlington.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net