Eleanor H. Bates

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Eleanor H. Puzzuoli - Bates, who passed away on Saturday, October 14th at the age of 96. She was in the company of her daughters and passed peacefully.

Born on July 2nd, 1927, in Detroit, MI, she grew up in Warren, MI on Studebaker Avenue where she lived for 96 years. She graduated from Lincoln High School where her 5 children also graduated from. She was a dedicated and loving wife to late ex-husband, Ted Bates, retired Mayor of Warren, MI. Devoted mother to her children, Ted (Susan), Barbara Bates-Nelson (Richard), the late Jamie (Patrick Callahan), Laurie Fair (Ron) and Cathleen Porter (Raymond). Loving Grandmother to Stephanie Sterbinsky (Bill), Lauren Cruz, Ryan Bates (Samantha), Tim Fair (April), Alyssa Fair, Raymond and Samantha Porter, David Nelson (Carrie), Marc Nelson (Leah) and Casey Nelson (Michelle). Loving Great Grandmother to William and Finley Sterbinsky, Ava and Taylor Bates, Lucca and Giulianna Fair, and from the Bates-Nelson family - Katie, Krista, Natalie, Evan, Nadia, Logan, Marina, Owen, and Mallory Nelson.

Eleanor was a very active public servant to the Warren community. She worked as an elementary school secretary and was involved in the Parent Teacher Association at the elementary, middle, and high school level. She helped promote the Warren Symphony Orchestra, Warren Concert Band, and the Lincoln High School Association and Foundation for Educational Excellence. Eleanor assisted her late ex-husband Ted Bates, being referred to as “The First Lady of Warren” and “The Queen of Volunteerism” while he was Mayor of Warren, MI in 1967 and served for 14 years. She was elected to the Warren City Council in 2005 and served on the Van Dyke Public School Board for 17 years. At 95 years old, the school board honored her lifelong service by dedicating The Lincoln Elementary library’s new addition to her as, “The Eleanor Bates Media Center”.

Eleanor lived a long and fulfilling life and was woman of many talents and great generosity. She had a passion for cooking and baking; and homemade dishes were always the highlight of the Detroit family gatherings! In her limited spare time, you could find Eleanor on the bowling lanes knocking down spares, at the casino playing penny slots, ensuring her American Flag was flying proudly, and on her front porch or on a church pew where she never missed a Sunday mass. Throughout her life, she served on multiple community boards to help improve her community.

A kind, generous, patriotic, and spiritually devoted soul, always putting others’ needs before her own. Her love and compassion extended to all who knew her and her Family, friends, country, community, church and the Van Dyke Public School Board of Education. Though we all lost a great one….God gained one.

In lieu of flowers, Eleanor has designated that donations can be made to The Foundation for Educational Excellence, Van Dyke Public Schools - https://www.vdps.net/page/foundation-for-excellence , The Warren Symphony Orchestra - https://www.warrensymphonyorchestra.com/ , or the Warren Concert Band - http://www.warrenconcertband.com/

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Eleanor’s visitation on Thursday, October 19th, 2023 from 5:00pm – 9:00pm and Friday, October 20th from 3:00pm – 9:00pm with a 6pm Rosary Service and Eulogy following at Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Rd, Warren, MI 48093. Eleanor will lie in state Saturday, October 21, 2023, from 9:30 AM until time of funeral mass at 10:00 AM at St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families- St. Clement Site, 25320 Van Dyke Avenue, Center Line.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.temrowski.com for the Bates family at her guest book below.