Eleanor Jane Belanger

Born in 1932 at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New Hampshire, Ellie’s childhood was marked by the Great Depression, the loss of her family’s hotel, the Hayes Hotel in Rochester, and the death of her father, Gerald J. Lucey, in 1939. She was raised by her mother, Marguerite Hayes Lucey, alongside her five aunts and four uncles in the family home at 22 Portland Street. These experiences shaped the resilience and devotion to family that marked Ellie’s life.

Ellie attended Spaulding High School in Rochester, where she participated in drama productions and cheerleading, graduating in 1950. Her early education nurtured a lifelong passion for reading and learning. After completing business studies, she joined General Electric in 1951 at its Somersworth, New Hampshire operation.

It was at GE that Ellie met the love of her life, Arthur C. “Sam” Belanger, a World War II veteran and recent University of New Hampshire graduate. They married on September 5, 1953, at St. Peter’s Church in Farmington, New Hampshire. Over the next 71 years, Ellie and Sam built a home and family together, supporting the communities where they lived. Ellie was the family’s anchor—a loving mother, homemaker, and planner—while Sam pursued an active executive career.

In 1961, Ellie and Sam moved with GE as Sam took on finance and operations roles in Syracuse, New York. Later, as he moved into the cable television business, the family lived in Clifton Park, New York; Trumbull, Connecticut; Ramsey, New Jersey; and Denver, Colorado. Ellie and Sam retired in 1992 and settled at Fords Coloney, Williamsburg, Virginia. They spent their retirement years visiting family, hosting social and family gatherings, and serving as dedicated members of St. Bede Catholic Church.

Ellie’s kindness and bright personality brought joy to those around her. She was a loving mother and grandmother whose steady encouragement shaped her sons’ lives. She took great pride in their school sports and supported them throughout, cheering them on at every opportunity – the tradition of sports excellence instilled by Ellie has produced NCAA D-1, D-2, and D-3 athletes across two generations.

Ellie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sam, in 2024, and her eldest son, Robert Russell Belanger, in 2012. She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey A. Belanger and his wife, Susan, of Citrus Hills, Florida; Gregory P. Belanger and his wife, Mai Bunla Belanger, of Arlington, Virginia; and James D. Belanger of Jupiter, Florida. She also leaves nine cherished grandchildren—Jeremy, Matthew, Allison, Emily, John, Diana, Sophie, Trevor, and Tyler—and nine great-grandchildren.

Ellie’s legacy of love, kindness, and devotion to her family will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by her family and friends.

The funeral service for Eleanor Jane “Ellie” Belanger will be held on October 20, 2026, at 3:00 PM at St. Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, Virginia. A visitation for family and friends will take place at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd, Williamsburg, VA from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on October 19, 2026. There will be a private interment at St. Bede on October 21st.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Ellie’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) or St. Bede Catholic Church (https://bedeva.org/), causes and missions close to her heart.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com.