Eleanor V. Cioffi passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 9, 2018, just a few days short of her 103rd birthday at Magnolia Glen in Raleigh. She was an inspiration to many: her life’s motto was “just keep moving”, an adage she adhered to until the end; playing cards and games, socializing with friends, reading, and making the most of every day.
Eleanor was born December 22, 1915, to Josephine and Joseph Vuola, the third of five children. After losing her parents at an early age, she was raised by her older sister and husband. In 1941, she married Patrick Cioffi. After his service in Europe during WWll, Eleanor and Pat lived in Norwalk, Connecticut until 1960, when they moved with their two young sons to Wilmot, New Hampshire, opening Cioffi’s Restaurant and Motel. A fabulous cook and baker, Eleanor made everything from scratch and took pride in creating a successful Italian restaurant in rural New Hampshire. Following her husband’s death in 1977, she continued to run the business until her retirement in 1979.
Eleanor lived in Rockville, Maryland, close to her oldest son John from 1987-1992. She loved the culture and arts of Washington, DC. She enjoyed the symphony, theater, museums and performances the area had to offer.
In 1992, she relocated to Lochmere in Cary, to be close to her son Andrew and his growing family. She attended church at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Apex, played a regular Thursday afternoon card game with “the girls” for years, worked out at the Rex Wellness Center until she was 100, and attended many soccer games, plays, and numerous other activities that her grandchildren participated in. She played golf until she was well into her 80’s, loved to read, walk, travel, and do things with her family and cherished friends.
Surviving are her sons: John (Amy), Bend, Oregon, and Andrew (Eleanor), Raleigh, and grandsons: Christopher (Kata), Washington, DC, Nicholas (TianYi), Raleigh, and Alexander, Brooklyn, NY.
The family would like to thank Magnolia Glen, Dr. Craig Stevens, and Transitions LifeCare for their loving help and care. Funeral arrangements made through Brown Wynne Funeral Home, website www.BrownWynneCary.com.
Her funeral is scheduled for Monday, January 28, 2019, at 11am, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Apex.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made to Transitions LifeCare.
