Eleanor Foley

Early Life: Eleanor “Ellie” grew up in San Antonio. Older brother Robert (Bobby) was held up to her as model of good behavior. Ellie would promise to be a “good boy” to avoid a spanking after she ran into the street, ate mud, took off her clothes after being dressed, had screaming tantrums, or made a terrible mess when eating. Worst of all Ellie started biting her brother. Eventually they became good playmates being 14 months apart. Two younger sisters, Nancy and Mary, came along, and she enjoyed helping to take care of them.

Education: Ellie attended St. Gerard’s Catholic School from 1941-1949; she graduated as the Valedictorian. She received many honors, awards and scholarships upon graduation.

In school, Ellie was involved in piano, girl scouts, art, sports, drama club, yearbook staff, speech club, band, cheering squad, school newsletter. She reports that she joined everything, except for choir.

She attended Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, after high school graduation, and continued to receive academic honors during her freshman year. This would be the 1st of 5 schools of higher learning Ellie would attend during her adult life as she pursued education and love of learning. But her education would be interrupted when she left San Antonio for Germany to marry the love of her life.

Ellie would complete her education at St. Edwards University, with a BA in Psychology, and finally completing her Masters in Marriage and Family therapy in 1983.

Work/Career: Ellie entered the workforce at the age of 13, working for Wolf & Marx where her dad worked. Later, as a young woman, Ellie joined the USO as a junior hostess and office girl. She planned and directed tours of historical sites for service men and women. During her child-raising years, to earn extra money, Ellie worked as a crossing- guard, babysitter, newspaper delivery person, daycare worker, salesperson at JC Penny, and clothing store salesperson. Her love of gardening gave her another business opportunity as she sold many of the plants she cultivated.

After graduating with her Masters, Ellie went on to work toward her certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor at St. Louis Catholic Church in Austin, TX. She led parenting workshops, communication classes, and other adult enrichment classes and groups. Ellie was also in charge of the marriage preparation for engaged couples.

Marriage/Family: Ellie met Robert “Bob” Foley, an army serviceman at the USO, in 1954. They fell in love and dated until he was sent to Germany. After a lengthy separation, and many letters back & forth, Ellie left her home in San Antonio to join Bob. Traveling by plane to New York, and then on the SS United States across the Atlantic to Germany. They married November 11, 1955.

The couple lived for a year in Germany, welcoming their first daughter, Patricia (Pat). The family then settled in Revere, MA where they welcomed daughter Suzanne (Sue). They returned to San Antonio, Texas where Catherine (Cathy) was born. Moving yet again for Bob’s work, they bought a house in Beaumont, Texas and welcomed: Margaret (Margie), Richard, Frank, and Eileen. In 1970, while 7 months pregnant with David, the family relocated to Austin. Ellie would live in the same home for the next 52 years.

She continued to be passionate about gardening for many years, practically turning the whole front and backyards into gardens and paths. She placed every stone in the yard to demarcate the garden beds & paths and constructed arbors, arches, & greenhouses. She received “Yard of the Month” awards for all her hard work. Not only was this a hobby, but as she would report, her therapy.

Over the next 5 decades Ellie would welcome into the family 23 grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren. She loved spending time with family and looked forward to visits from the next 3 generations. Family gatherings were a particular joy to Ellie: birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. On a Sunday afternoon in the fall, you could find Ellie watching the Dallas Cowboys with her family.

Bob and Ellie enjoyed traveling, and made a trip to Florida, took a cruise, visited New Orleans, and made trips up to New England to visit family and view the fall foliage; they were looking forward to more trips when Bob retired.

Devastating news would be given to the family in 1992; Bob had been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s). Ellie spent the next several years lovingly caring for Bob until his death in 1998. Daughter Pat would pass away in 1997 and Richard in 2016. Ellie also lost her parents in 1997 (Milton) and 2000 (Margaret).

Faith: Through the loss of her parents, her husband, her daughter and her son, she remained strong in her faith in God and His unfailing love for her.

Ellie was raised in the Catholic church and continued to practice her faith all of her life. She was grateful to her parents for being examples of their faithfulness. In a note to her parents before leaving for Germany to marry, Ellie wrote: ...”thanks” for, - well, for just everything; ... for giving me the Catholic faith, a wonderful brother and sisters, a home and family-life that will serve as a model for the home and family I want...”

She was faithful to her Lord and to her family through many trials and tragedy. She pursued her faith in Bible study groups and was a faithful member of St Louis Catholic church for many years.

After a car accident, 9 years ago, followed by a long hospital stay, she began to lose her brilliance. Yet she never lost her faith in her Lord Jesus Christ, something you can see growing and building throughout her very active life.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Milton E., and Margaret M. Beissner; her husband: Robert F Foley; her daughter, Patricia A Foley, and her son, Richard J Foley. As well as her brother, Robert E. Beissner, and her sisters, Nancy J Lucas, and Mary K Beissner.

She is survived by her children: Sue (Steve) McFerren, Cathy Arnold, son-in-law Tony Cristofich, Margie (Jack) Murray, Frank (Nancy) Foley, Eileen (Dean) Somerville, and David Foley. As well as 23 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Dr. Luan Tran and the wonderful caregivers at Tran’s Senior Oasis for the care and compassion they showed our mother in her final years. As well as Suncrest Hospice, nurses, aides and chaplain, for their care and compassion during Ellie’s final days.

Family and friends are invited to attend Ellie’s Celebration of Life at Cook-Walden/Capital Park, 14501 N. I35, Pflugerville on Saturday February 8th a at 2pm.

Burial at 3pm, followed by a reception.