Eleanor Jane LaFleur-Garlitz died Monday evening, October 11, 2021, at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis. She was nine years old. She loved her family, especially her grandmas, her cousins, and her Uncle Fabian's stories. She also loved her teachers and her friends--she made friends everywhere she went.
Born in Martin,Tennessee, of Yankee stock, she adhered to simple principles: do your best, be kind to others, equality, empathy, and, of course, feminism. She showered affection on a motley procession of cats that came her way: Tuxedo, Yellow Cat, Little Guy, Burrito, and Xander. She possessed enough moxie to fill several lifetimes and once co-founded a Sassy Girls Club at Martin Primary School. She had a giving heart, thinking of others until the very end. She found special gifts to send family and friends, baked banana bread for her neighbors and thought of ways to help other kids at St. Jude's. After seeing so many homeless in Memphis, she made care packages for their comfort.
She excelled at science and math but was "not a big fan" of reading and social studies. History, she said, was her parents' thing. Other interests included dancing--she did two years ballet and tap, You Tube, fishing, crafts, cooking, and playing video games with her mom and cousins. She co-led a local Brownie group with her mom. Undeterred by winter weather and a global pandemic, she sold Girl Scout cookies by the case with the help of her slightly competitive cookie coordinator mom. She also played one epic season of youth basketball marred only by the ineptitude of her dad's coaching.
She underwent a bone marrow transplant this summer that kept her in the hospital for almost two months. She used the time to develop Tik Tok videos about making slime and cookies in a hospital room. She had immeasurable intelligence and felt confident in telling the nursing staff what they were doing wrong.
She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Martin. She enjoyed being the acolyte and serving lunch after the Sunday service. She also occasionally sang with the choir. She deemed herself sufficiently versed on God and Jesus to skip out on most of the services. She had the bravery of a thousand Marvel superheroes. Iron Man and Thor were her favorites although Mom encouraged Wonder Woman. She faced her fears every day overcoming the many challenges of her illness. Her strength and perseverence are an inspiration to all.
She was named after two great humanitarians, Eleanor Roosevelt and Jane Addams. She left this world on the former first lady's 137th birthday. She is survived by her parents, two grandmothers, a step-grandfather, two great-grandfathers, five aunts, five uncles, twenty cousins, and two beloved cats.
Her funeral will be Saturday, October 16, 2021 at First Methodist Church in Martin beginning at 10:30 A.M. with lunch to follow the service. There will be visitation with the family on Friday evening, October 15, 2021 at First Methodist Church in Martin from 5 P.M. until 7 P.M.
First Methodist Church
First Methodist Church
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