Eleanor Gauthier

Born in Saranac Lake on Aug. 4, 1929, she was the daughter of Charles and Edith (St. Louis) Brown.

Eleanor attended the Broadway Elementary School and usually was on the honor roll. Eleanor has always loved dancing and used to go to the Oddfellows Hall in Saranac Lake for their Friday night dances. She even attended dances hosted by the United Service Organizations at the Lake Placid Club during World War II. Eleanor taught her daughters to dance, and they loved to jitterbug together. Eleanor met her husband Bud on a blind date, set up by a friend of hers. They were married Oct. 18, 1948, at Church of the Assumption in Redford. Eleanor has lived most of her life in Saranac Lake and has always loved the Winter Carnival celebrations, especially the dinner dance they use to hold at the Hotel Saranac. Eleanor returned to school when she was 50 years old to pursue practical nursing. She was a devoted caregiver. One of her most memorable experiences was working as the head dispatcher at the bobsled run during the 1980 Olympics. She loved her time working there. The highlight of the experience was meeting Eric Heiden, the Olympic speedskater who broke the 10,000-meter world record during the 1980 games. Eleanor moved to Saranac Village at Will Rogers in December 2013 and really enjoyed her time there, and of course she loved the dances Will Rogers hosts. She always looked forward to seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Eleanor loved St. Bernard’s Church and Sister Carol’s rosary services at Will Rogers.

She is survived by two daughters Carol (Robert) Jaquis of Saranac Lake and Linda (Dennis) Rath of Arnprior, Ontario, Canada; six grandchildren: Tara (Jonathon) Whitelock, Kerri-Lynn Rath, Angela (Emmett Hoops) Estes, Tammy (Eric) Wilson, Kyle Jaquis and Shawn (Heather Shanty) Jaquis; five great-grandchildren: Ty Whitelock, Cassidy Whitelock, Megan Wilson, Lisa Wilson and Anna Wilson; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband and two sisters, Muriel Rafferty and Dorothy Moody.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, funeral services and burial will take place at the convenience of the family at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Saranac Lake. A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place at a later date to be announced. The family would like to especially thank the staff at Saranac Village at Will Rogers, the Adirondack Medical Center and Elderwood of Uihlein for their excellent care of their mother and grandmother.

Friends wishing to remember Eleanor Gauthier may make memorial contributions to St. Bernard’s Church in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.