A loving, caring, and generous woman who was very social
WAKEFIELD — Eleanor M. “Sissy” Long, age 87, of Wakefield, died Sunday, October 9, 2022 after a period of failing health at the Brightview Senior Living Center, surrounded by her family.
Born in Somerville on December 16, 1934 she was the daughter of the late John F. and Eleanor M. (Leary) Gover.
Eleanor was raised in Malden and was a graduate of the former Girls Catholic High School. She had worked many years as an administrative assistant for the Malden Redevelopment Authority until her retirement. Together with her late husband, she loved traveling to Naples, Florida, most especially for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. She also was a big fan of all the Boston sports teams, and her family recounts she could often be found on Sundays yelling at the television while watching the Patriots.
In the family home on Emerson Street, you could always find Eleanor on the front porch, especially on the Fourth of July taking in the parade. She loved hosting her family, cooking her famous spaghetti and meatballs, telling a good story and having a good laugh. She took great pride in her children and grandchildren. Eleanor flourished upon moving into the Brightview Senior Living Center in Wakefield. She became very social while forming many new friendships at Brightview. She enjoyed participating in the choir, rosary, Sunday worship, outings and dinner in the Pub. She also remained very close to her high school friends, and the group often got together. Eleanor enjoyed shopping and was a member of the Red Hat Society. She will be remembered as being very loving, caring and generous.
She was the beloved wife of the late Martin E. Long. She was the loving mother of Kathleen Corcoran and her husband Michael of MD, Carole Pinette and her husband Jay of Wakefield, James Long and his wife Mary of Andover, John Long and his wife Gina of Gloucester, Martin Long and his wife Marie of Sudbury, and Mary Breda of Wakefield. She was the dear sister of Joanne Clifford and Madelyn Fortier, both of Wakefield and the late Robert, John, Daniel, Sister Carole SSND, Michael, and Paul Gover. She was the cherished “Nana” to fifteen grandchildren: Matthew, Brendan, Derek, Katelynn, Kathleen, Martin, James, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, Ellen, Michael, Brian, Bridget, Brady, and the late Caroline Pinette. She is also survived by her 11 great-grandchildren: Maxwell, Madelynn, Brayden, Liam, Caroline, Evey, Sebastian, Rosalie, Eero, Quinn, and Callan. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Eleanor’s family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all of the staff at Brightview and Brighton Hospice for the love and compassionate care that was provided to their Mom during her residence.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield on Saturday, Oct 15 at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave, Wakefield on Friday from 4-7 p.m. Interment, Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Eleanor’s memory are made to her late granddaughter Caroline’s ACC research fund at The University of Michigan. The “Sweet Caroline Research Fund” is fund #331574 and may be found at https://leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/#!/search
