Eleanora M. Wisdom

Eleanora was born August 7, 1931 in Panama, Illinois to John and Helen (Mondino) Viviano. She married Harley Wisdom on May 27, 1950 in Pekin. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on August 7, 2002; her daughter, Cathy (Wisdom) Graham on December 22, 2007 and her sister, Marlene (Viviano) Shields.

She is survived by her son, Michael (Debbie) Wisdom of Peoria and her two grandsons, Kevin Graham of Pekin and Andrew Wisdom of Peoria. Never have two grandchildren been more loved.

Eleanora was a long-standing member of the First United Methodist Church of Pekin, and served on many church committees over the years. She was a charter member of the Pekin Lady Elks Emblem Club, a director on the Pekin YWCA board, and a volunteer for the Red Cross, March of Dimes, American Cancer Society and other local charities.

When Eleanora and Harley started their family, she became a “stay at home” mom so she could be a major part of her children’s lives. She was extremely involved in many of their school and extracurricular activities, including serving on numerous school committees and boards. She was and always will be remembered as “Mom” to her children and to an extended family of her children’s friends -- she was a Mother of two, but a Mom to many. Eleanora also was extremely involved in the lives of her two grandsons, creating and sharing as many memories as possible, which she treasured immensely. She never missed one of her children’s or grandchildren’s activities, whether a basketball, soccer, baseball or softball game or a Notables musical performance. As is obvious, family was the most important thing to her throughout her life.

Eleanora loved to dance, and had a wonderful singing voice. An avid reader, she still read books daily. For years, she was a regular bingo player with friends in Pekin. She also loved to play cards, including weekly outings with a life-long group of old high school friends. Eleanora was an extremely genuine, unassuming and caring person, and as a result had a huge circle of friends her whole life.

Her private visitation and funeral will be held on Friday, December 11, 2020 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Rev. James C. McClarey and Rev. Judy Doyle will officiate. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com