Eleanor Pontillo Rhodes was the daughter of Angelo and Philomena Pontillo, who emigrated from Italy over a century ago. Eleanor was born and raised in Batavia, New York, and moved to North Miami Beach, Florida, in 1954. There, she raised her six children: Sandy, Rick, Ron, Randy, Kim, and David. Her greatest joy was in seeing her children thrive and raise wonderful families of their own. She loved a good joke, and a good meal, and for decades her kitchen table remained the center of the family universe. She was blessed with thirteen grandchildren, Allen, Aaron, Heather, Claire, Lauren, Ellie, Tiffany, John, Brittany, Michael, Melissa, Amanda, and Jackson; and seven great-grandchilren: Cole, Tyson, Christian, Gaby, Marcella, Nicholas, and Erin.
In 2000, she began the next phase of her life in Cooper City, Florida, where she was able to be closer to her children. Once there, she continued her role as the family center, and the continued closeness of her children and their own families was a constant joy to her. Even in the face of her loss of her eyesight and other complications, she showed great courage and a positive attitude, tinged with unfailing humor, throughout.
Eleanor herself was from a large family. She had four sisters: Rosie, Jenny, Mary, and Anna; and four brothers: Jimmy, Tony, Sam, and Mikey. Even after she left Batavia for sunny Florida, she remained close with her brothers and sisters and their families in New York.
Eleanor Rhodes passed away on January 28, 2011 at Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, Florida. She is survived by six children: Sandra (Lenny) St. Germain, Richard (Elizabeth) Rhodes, Ronald (Kathy) Rhodes, Randy (Marybeth) Rhodes, Kim Babbitt, and David (Paula) Rhodes; one sister, Mary Cafora; thirteen grandchildren: Allen, Aaron, Heather, Claire, Lauren, Ellie, Tiffany, John, Brittany, Michael, Melissa, Amanda, and Jackson; and seven great-grandchildren: Cole, Tyson, Christian, Gaby, Marcella, Nicholas, and Erin. A visitation will be held Monday, January 31st, 2011, 12:30-1:30pm with 1:30 pm Funeral Service at Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens South, (The Pyramid) 2401 SW 64th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33317. Entombment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens South.
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