Miss Elynor Claire Rooney, born on May 9, 1925, a devout Catholic and longtime parishioner of St. Henry’s Catholic Church, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at the age of 93. She was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee and was proud to call it her home. Elynor was blessed with many lifelong friendships forged during grammar school, workplaces, and travels. She loved serving God, spending time with her family and friends, excelling in her career, traveling the world, knitting, sewing, wearing the latest fashions, and of course, cheering on Notre Dame football.
She was preceded in death by her parents Katherine (Katie) Morgan Rooney and Thomas Byrd Rooney, her sister Jean Rooney Oehmig, and her brothers Paul Rooney and Robert Rooney. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Patricia Rooney, and by many nieces and nephews, along with their families. Loving aunt of Kathy Rooney Cannavello (Doug), Barbara Rooney Pendragon (Ron), Carol Rooney Warren (Randy), Kevin Rooney (Karen), Stephen Rooney (Nancy), Robert “Bert” Rooney (Michelle), Michael Rooney (Dana), and Helen Rooney Buettner (Donn). Devoted great aunt to Thomas “TJ” Rooney (children TJ Jr. and Noah), Brian Rooney (Christina, children Vannessa and Keinan, grandchild Abbi), Geoffrey Rooney (Kristy, children Cheyenne, Maegan, and Kaitlin), Michael Rooney Jr. (children Cooper and Sullivan), Jessica Rooney Patria (Matt, children Katie and Taylor), Kelly Hagblom, Christopher Hagblom, Cary Hagblom, Carol Ann Chauvin (Dan, children Cole and Kyle), Kathryn Copple (Dirk), Rebecca Rooney, Matthew Rooney, Jennifer Rooney, Alexander Rooney, and Kristen Rooney.
Elynor loved having a professional career and started it off by working for the railroad in Nashville. Her accomplishments and managerial skills soon led her to jobs in San Francisco and later Indianapolis where she worked for Transamerica Airlines as Director of Contract Administration & Tariffs. She finished her career at American Trans Air in Nashville, where she was Charter Sales Manager and later Director for International Contract Negotiations. After retirement she became their Goodwill Ambassador, which allowed her many opportunities to travel the world as their spokeswoman.
She also worked with the Ladies of Charity of Nashville, serving a term as President and many other key roles at their charity thrift shop. She supported many charities, and sponsored several orphans through Catholic orphanages. One of her most passionate causes was being an advocate for unborn babies in the early days of the Pro-Life movement. She petitioned her elected representatives, both locally and nationally, and was actively involved in campaigns for political candidates that most represented her own moral and personal convictions.
Elynor spent the last five years of her life at The Arthur Home, in Arthur, Illinois, near her nephew Stephen and his wife Nancy. She impressed and entertained the staff there with her genuine charm, shared stories from her world-wide travels, and couldn’t help exhibiting some of her managerial skills by trying to take charge at times! She kept a clipboard full of papers and liked to pop in the office to recommend improvements she thought might benefit everyone. The staff loved her and referred to her as their “Southern Belle”.
Funeral arrangements will be on Tuesday, April 16th at St. Henry’s Catholic Church, 6401 Harding Road Nashville, TN 37205. Visitation is from 11:00 to 1:00, followed by a Mass at 1:00 p.m. Internment will be at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ladies of Charity of Nashville, a non-profit organization. Contact www.ladiesofcharitynashville.org for information on donating.
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