Eleanor Howard

Eleanor was born in Blair Township, Grand Traverse County, on March 19, 1920 to Anton and Amelia (Willacker) Schneider. Eleanor was a member of the first graduating class of St. Mary of Hannah high school in 1939. On May 16, 1940 she married William Lyle Howard who preceded her in death on January 3, 1982. Eleanor was a wife, homemaker, foster mother, and worked at the Grand Traverse County Medical Care Facility as a nurse's aide and medical secretary.

Eleanor is survived by her children Albert (Lenise) Howard, Karen (Leo) Weber, Carl (Marion) Howard, Dianne (Kneale) Weber, all of Kingsley, and Mary Howard of Phoenix, AZ; 15 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; sisters Irma Calfo and Elsie Wineman; brother-in-laws Joe Kastner and Larry Priest. She was preceded in death by her brothers Cyril (Clara) Schneider, LeRoy (Rosemary) Schneider, John (Gladys) Schneider, Roman, and Walter Schneider; sisters Monica (Ed) Fryzelka, Marian Kastner, Alva Priest, and Grace Schneider.

She had remarkable talent for sewing and handiwork. As an avid quilter, she was a founding member of the Rumpled Quilts Kin Quilt Guild in Interlochen that works to preserve and teach the art of quilting, and donates quilts to benefit charities. She made a quilt for each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as dolls and many other items. She made many baby bonnets for newborns at Munson Hospital. She participated in quilting demonstrations at Buckley Old Engine show and the Northwestern Michigan Fair, where she also exhibited many of her works of art.

Visitation will be at Covell Funeral Home, 200 N. Brownson, Kingsley, MI on Monday, July 3 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church at 5037 County Road 633, Grawn, MI on Wednesday July 5, at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow at St. Mary of Hannah Church cemetery, 2912 W. M-113, Kingsley, MI. The family would like to thank the staff at both Traverse Manor and Heartland Hospice for their exceptional care. Memorial donations may be made in Eleanor's honor to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, the Rumpled Quilts Kin Quilt Guild, or a charity of your choice.