HOLYOKE: Miss Eleanor “Ellie” A. Hepburn, 79, died on Friday (February 5, 2016) at The Suffield House, Suffield, CT. She was born on June 4, 1936 in Springfield, MA. She was the daughter of the late Albert and Sarah J.(Axton) Hepburn. She was a longtime resident of Holyoke, MA and West Yarmouth, MA. The family is extremely grateful for the care provided to Ellie by the staff of the Suffield House. Everyone from the administrative directors to the housekeepers, laundry staff and cooks were compassionate and loving.
A 1954 graduate of Westfield High School, Ellie received her Diploma in Nursing from the Holyoke Hospital School of Nursing. She went on with her education to obtain a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, followed by her Master’s in Nursing from Anna Maria College and a Master’s of Education from Westfield State College.
Eleanor retired as Practical Nursing Program Director with the W.J. Dean Technical School, Holyoke. During her tenure she served at the W.J. Dean Technical School as Coordinator of the Health Service Assistants Program and as an Instructor with the Practical Nursing Program. Previously Eleanor was an Administrative Supervisor, Nursing Service, at Holyoke Hospital where she had begun her career as a Staff Nurse.
Ellie was a very busy woman. Her long notable career and expertise saw Eleanor as Consultant to the National Evaluation Service (1987-1988) and Putnam Vocational Technical School Practical Nursing Program (1993). She belonged to Massachusetts Department of Education Chapter 74 Audit Teams: for Northampton High School (1987), Westfield Vocational School (1984), Smith Agricultural-Vocational High School (1979), Pathfinder Regional Vocational-Technical High School (1978) and Putnam Vocational-Technical High School (1977). Eleanor also served on the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Inc. Evaluation Team, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School in Groton, CT (1981). Her many nursing affiliations and committees included the National Association of Practical Nursing Education and Service (NAPNESS), the National League for Nursing (NLN), Massachusetts/Rhode Island League for Nursing: serving as Secretary for the Council of Practical Nursing Programs from 1980 to 1984 and its Task Force to develop a position statement regarding the issue of entry into practice as it relates to nursing practice in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Additional affiliations and committees include The American Heart Association, Western Massachusetts Division; Federation for Accessible Nursing Education and Licensure (FANEL); Sigma Theta Tau International; Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and its Ad Hoc Committee to study the use of Preceptors/Adjunct Faculty in Schools of Nursing (1993) and the Task Force to revise rules/regulations governing Schools of Nursing (1978-1980); Massachusetts Department of Education, Division of Health Occupations: Ad Hoc Committee to revise rules and regulations governing Schools of Nursing (1974). At the Dean School Eleanor served as committee member and Secretary to the General Advisory Committee and Practical Nursing Program. She served as an advisory committee member for Holyoke Visiting Nurses Association, Inc. and Holyoke Community College School of Nursing (1981-1984).
Eleanor was predeceased by 2 brothers, Richard and Edward Hepburn. Surviving siblings are a brother, Frederick J. Hepburn and his wife Janet, of Southwick; three sisters: Sally E. Barnett of Suffield, CT; Sharon H. Basile and her husband Donald, of Douglassville, PA; MaryLyn Hepburn- Reppert of Boyertown, PA. Many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews, cousins and extended family filled her life. She was loved and will be deeply missed!
A funeral mass will be offered on Friday (Feb. 12, 2016) at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of the Lake Church, Southwick. The family will receive friends in the Marian Center, of Our Lady of the Lake Church, located in the rear of the church, adjacent to the parking lot, beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in the Spring in New Cemetery , Southwick.
Eleanor’s wish was that you do not send flowers. Instead, she welcomed any memorial contributions be made to:
- The National Scoliosis Foundation, 5 Cabot Place, #5, Stoughton, MA 02072;
- Our Lady of the Lake Church, 224 Sheep Pasture Road, Southwick, MA 01077;
- The Alzheimer’s Foundation, 264 Cottage St., Springfield, MA 01104;
- The American Heart Assoc., P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005 or
- to a charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Southwick Forastiere Family Funeral and Cremation, 624 College Highway, Southwick, MA. www.forastiere.com
