Published in the June 21, 2016 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Eleanor L. Hodson, 90, formerly of Wakefield, died in Lancaster on Sunday, June 12, after a brief illness.
She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Franklin E. Hodson, who died in 2006.
Eleanor was born in Stoneham, to Harold and Mary (Cash) Ruggles, and graduated from South Lancaster Academy in South Lancaster, in 1945. While their children were young, Mr. and Mrs. Hodson served as foster parents for many years through the Boston Children’s Service Association.
Employed by New England Memorial Hospital in Stoneham as a nurse’s aide, Eleanor later served as a registered nurse after earning her ASN at North Shore Community College. Prior to her retirement she also worked at the Greenview Manor Nursing Home in Wakefield. Eleanor was proud to have participated for 40 years in the Harvard Medical School Nurses’ Health Study.
She was a lifelong member of the Stoneham Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church, of which her parents were charter members.
In her leisure time Eleanor enjoyed arts and crafts, painting in oils, travel, vacationing at her waterfront camp in Oxford, Maine and visiting with friends and family.
Mrs. Hodson is survived by a daughter and four sons: Jacqui Evans; Franklin Hodson Jr. and his wife Winifred; John Hodson and his wife Maureen; Randall Hodson and his wife Ann, and David Hodson and his wife Jennifer. She leaves behind 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Eleanor also leaves two brothers, Raymond Ruggles and Arthur “Sandy” Ruggles and was preceded in death by another brother, David Ruggles, and two sisters, Mrs. Eunice Wilkins and Mrs. Elizabeth Harvey.
A memorial service is planned for Sunday, July 10, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Stoneham Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church, 29 Maple St., Stoneham.
Interment will be held at the Lindenwood Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
