Eleanor M. (Rafferty) Conroy

Eleanor was the daughter of the late John and Eleanor (Foster) Rafferty of Philadelphia, PA.  She was a 1952 graduate of West Catholic Girls High School.  After high school she began work as an Executive Secretary for Collin's and Aikman where she earned $1.00 per hour.  She worked there while engaged to her high school sweetheart, Frank Conroy, who was stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado with the United States Army.  While continuing to live at home with her parents in Havertown, PA, she was able to save most of her income, and all of Frank's Army checks, for their future home in Springfield, PA, where she and he resided for 67 years.

Eleanor, once married, took on the role of homemaker and became a mother in 1957.  She spent her years as a devoted wife, mother and member of the St. Kevin church community.  She and her husband were founding members of the church in 1955.  She was dedicated equally to family life and church life.

Eleanor served many roles at St. Kevin's.  She was past president of the Women' Club where she worked on numerous fund raisers for the parish, including Beef and Beer nights in the church's auditorium.  She was always one of the last people to leave after any fundraiser as she worked in the kitchen and locked up the doors.

For many years at St. Kevin's she was responsible for cleaning the church every Friday.  She later became an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist (EME) where she took Holy Communion to the Springfield Hospital and the Harlee Manor Nursing Home.  She was also a member of the Young Pioneer Club (senior citizens) at St. Kevin's where she was in charge of creating activities and providing refreshments at meetings. 

Her parish life included working many years at St. Kevin School.  She was active in both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, serving as Brownie Leader, Girl Scout Leader, and Den Mother.  She was a volunteer in the school's library and learning center where she helped students academically.  She started the 7th and 8th grade dance, known as the Purple Cow, and used the Knights of Columbus Hall for those dances. The kids loved the dances as they provided a place to have fun outside of the classroom.

She was involved in the sports programs at St. Kevin's.  She started the girls 5th and 6th grade junior varsity basketball team because, at the time, basketball was only available at the 7th and 8th grade varsity level.  Later on she started the girls intermural basketball team for 3rd and 4th grade girls.  She also started a girls track and field program because surrounding parishes had that sports program. 

Eleanor enjoyed traveling with her family.  Trips included camping in Colorado, Virginia and Florida.  Later with her husband she would travel to Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Canada and Hawaii.   She and her husband, Frank, loved to travel together and enjoyed many years on the road together. Their favorite spot would be Colorado Springs where their lifelong Philadelphia friends, Ray and Ann McCann, resided. 

Eleanor loved the Jersey Shore, especially weekends camping just outside of Sea Isle City.  Many weekends were spent with children, then grandchildren at the shore.  Days by the beach and nights with a campfire were treasured.  Life was simple, but the shore made it extraordinary. 

Eleanor cherished her grandchildren and was best known for making them smile and feeling loved.  She held an Easter Egg hunt every year for grandchildren that were able to attend.  Eggs were scattered across the yard for everyone and it brought joy to the children to find their individual large egg with their name written on it.  

Eleanor was a warm and loving person and will be greatly missed by her entire family.

Beloved wife of the late Francis Conroy; Loving mother of El Conroy, Christopher (Mary Lou Dressman) Conroy, Karen (Dan) Hegarty and the late Frank Conroy Jr.; Also survived by her loving daughter-in-law Jeanne O'Hara Conroy. Cherished Grandmother of Judi, Sarah, Dana, Kevin, Frank, Tiffany, Dave, Jeff, Adam, Mary Jane, and the late Michael. Great-grandmother to 25. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy (Rafferty) Staquet, sister-in-laws, Joan Patrignani and Dot Conroy; predeceased by her brothers John and Edward Rafferty; and survived by many nephews and nieces.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Viewing Wednesday June 26, 2024 9:30am St. Kevin Church,  200 W. Sproul Rd, Springfield, PA 19064 and to her Funeral Mass 11am in the Church. Int. SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery.

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