Eleanor Jane Nicholson

Eleanor Jane Nicholson was born on August 13, 1945, and passed away on August 30, 2026, at the age of 81. A resident of Port Alberni, British Columbia, Eleanor was raised in Hanover, Toronto, Durham, Ontario.

Eleanor was predeceased by parents Ken and Joan Nicholson; sister Leslie Aberle; brother-in-law Neil Abeler; and a younger brother in infancy, Frankie.

Eleanor attended Alma College in St. Thomas, Ontario, from 1963 to 1964. In the early 1970’s, Eleanor worked at Canada’s High Commission in London, UK, and in Laos Nigeria. Returning to Toronto to work in intergovernmental affairs, Eleanor later met the Irish sparkle of Eleanor’s life, Arnold Gillespie (deceased 2014 in Port Alberni), who was from Belfast, Ireland.

An avid gardener, Eleanor also became a trusted “fishing buddy” of Arnie—sharing in the quiet companionship and steady devotion that marked their life together.

Eleanor will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by the Jeffries family; sister Judy; brother-in-law John; and Michael, Izabelle, and Bryce Jeffries; Heather; Remi Doiron and children; brother Reg and wife Colleen; Callie and Carina and families; niece Margot Simpson; and Malcolm Aberl.

A scattering of both Eleanor and Arnie’s ashes will take place at a later date.