Eleanor (Sheridan) Hines, 86 of Enfield entered into eternal life on Friday March 31, 2006 at Hartford Hospital, Hartford. She was born in Enfield daughter of the late Charles H. and Kathryn (Shea) Sheridan. Eleanor was a graduate of the former St. Joseph's Grammar School Thompsonville, a graduate of Cathedral High School Springfield, MA and graduate of St. Joseph's College W. Hartford where she received her BA in English and also her graduate studies at St. Joseph's College. She was an English teacher for over 20 years at both Enfield and Enrico Fermi High Schools and was a former chairperson of the English Dept. at Enrico Fermi High School, Eleanor retired in 1986. Eleanor authored the chapter on government in the book, Enfield Challenge of Change which was published during the Enfield Bicentennial celebration. She chaired the Enfield Town Charter Revision Commission that changed the form of government to council/manager. Eleanor was a longtime member of the Springfield Museum Association. Eleanor was a loving wife and mother. She and Tom instilled in their children a belief in the importance of family, the value of education and the importance of responsible citizenship, all while maintaining a hearty sense of humor. Eleanor was an inspiration to her family, her friends and all who knew her. Eleanor lived a full, independent life to the very end. "Carpe diem” was a way of life to her. She enjoyed cooking for her family and made the turkey and stuffing at the last Thanksgiving. Eleanor loved to travel with her husband, and later with sister, Jeanne, going several times to Ireland and to Europe and traveling extensively in the U.S. She was a proud graduate of Saint Joseph College and recently attended her 60th reunion there. Eleanor always found time for a visit with her old college friends. The Alumni Giving Committee will miss her. Eleanor adored her grandchildren and was lucky enough to be able to walk all of them to school at the beginning. Eleanor was a daily communicant at Holy Family Church and enjoyed special friendships with the "church ladies”, including breakfast after mass. Eleanor was a voracious reader and was well known to the staff at the Enfield library. She is survived by her beloved family, a daughter and son in law, Theresa & Guy MacKenzie of Springfield, MA, two sons and daughters in law, Mark & Carmen Hines of Enfield, and Charles & Shelby Hines of Wilbraham, MA, her five beloved grandchildren, David K. MacKenzie, Joseph P. MacKenzie, K. Elizabeth MacKenzie, Andrew Hines and Erica Hines, also her step grandchildren, David Gwatkin, Kristen Hope-Reed and Wesley Gwatkin. Eleanor also leaves two sisters & a brother in law, Jeanne McMahon of Rye, NH, and Charlene & William Kearns of Windsor Locks, a brother and sister in law, Edward & Janet Sheridan of East Windsor, along with many nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by a brother, Bud "John” Sheridan, a sister in law, Carmen Sheridan and a brother in law, James N. McMahon.
Funeral services in celebration of Eleanor's life will be held on Monday April 3, 2006 at 9am from Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels 43 Shaker Rd. Enfield, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in Holy Family Church 23 Simon Rd. Enfield. Interment will take place in St. Patrick's King St. Cemetery, Enfield. Eleanor's family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday April 2, from 3 to 7pm at Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels. Memorial donations in her memory may be made to Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Mission Society POX. Box 302 Maryknoll, NY 10545 or to the Enfield Loaves & Fish 28 Prospect St. P.O. Box 455 Enfield, CT 06083-0544.