Eleanore O. Dower of Newtown Square

Eleanore O. Dower, 94, of Newtown Square and formerly of Havertown, PA passed away peacefully on May 6, 2017 at Riddle Hospital.

Eleanore was born on May 29, 1922 in Bethlehem to James D. and Elizabeth O. (Dunston) Dower. She grew up with her four brothers and two sisters in Mohnton before moving to Catasauqua with her Uncle Thomas and Aunt Helen Miles in 1932.

She graduated from Catasauqua High School in 1939 and went to Allentown Business College graduating in 1942. Eleanore worked in the accounting department for the Lehigh Valley Railroad for six years while saving for nursing school. She attended the Reading Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1951 as the class president, and stayed at the school as the Supervisor of Health Services until 1953. From there she moved to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania as a part-time staff nurse while earning her B.S.N.Ed. She continued at Penn as an instructor and later as the Assistant to the Dean of Nursing and obtained her M.S.Ed in Nursing Education.

Eleanore was instrumental in the establishment of Widener University’s School of Nursing and later became the Dean of Nursing. She was with Widener for 20 years until her retirement in 1987, when she received emeritus status. She had attended every Nightingale Ceremony from 1968-2015. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau and Pi Lambda Honor Societies, and was listed in Who’s Who in American Women, Who’s Who in Health Care, and Outstanding Educators of America.

Since 1965, Eleanore was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church of Llanerch in Havertown where she helped as an elder and moderator of the Women’s Association and volunteered whenever she was called upon. She was active at White Horse Village where she had resided for the past ten years. She volunteered at The Stall, was a member of the quilting club, and the Village Singers.

An avid Phillies fan, she rarely missed a game on TV or radio since her brother introduced her to the team as a child. She also enjoyed time with her family, travelling, music, gardening, and dachshunds.

Eleanore is survived by sisters Frances Whipple of Walnut Creek, CA and Caroline Barrett of Allentown; 11 nieces and nephews; 15 great-nieces and nephews; and 11 great-grandnieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers James, Harry, George, and Warren; nephews Douglass Bryant and Glenn Dower; and best friends Beryl Harrison and Grace Dobler.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Eleanore asked that donations be made in her honor to the Presbyterian Church of Llanerch Memorial Fund.

Arrangements by The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-4319000.

Online condolences at www.donohuefuneralhome.com.