Eleanor Duddie of Brewster NY passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 8, 2020 with her daughter, Barbara by her side. She was 96 years old.

Eleanor was born on May 23, 1923, in the Bronx, NY daughter of the late Peter and Angela Bartolomeo. She grew up in a large Italian American Family with three brothers and four sisters. She loved to talk about how close they all were and growing up in her father’s candy store and this continued into their adult lives. She was very proud of her immigrant parents and all they had built for their family.

One of her favorite memories was when she was 16, she attended the New York World’s Fair in 1939. There she saw the future of the world’s technology, television sets, washing machines and phones…things we now take for granted. She said this was an experience of a lifetime, something she would never forget, and it inspired her to dream of all the possibilities the future held.

She lived through World War II and she had amazing stories about during that time of helping to sew gloves for our soldiers and told about how many of the women in the city took on the manufacturing jobs to keep the city going. She also made music boxes and her favorite- making chocolate candies. She loved telling those stories saying it was just like the I love Lucy Episode!

During that time, she would write and receive letters and photos from the love of her life, Peter Duddie. They fell in love before he left for War, but she would not marry until his safe return home.

Peter and Eleanor married on May 25, 1946 and their love story continued. He would always tell her “You are mine forever with my heart and soul forever.” They had 5 children together and raised their family in the Bronx, later moving upstate to Brewster, NY. There Eleanor served her local community by working in the Brewster School District (1975-1985). She was always full of life and loved interacting with people. She had a few other jobs in between but later in life she worked at Dunkin Donuts until she was 85! Filling her customers’ cups with coffee, smiles and life advice.

Eleanor was full of radiant beauty and energy inside and out until the very end. Her laughter was infectious. Whoever she talked to would be captivated by her personality and happiness. She loved her family, especially being around her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had the best songs and stories. She loved Elizabeth Taylor and Fashion. She was always the best dressed in the room and the one you could count on to give you a good laugh even in the hardest of times. She lived a full, happy life. Her stories and memory will live on through her family.

Eleanor is survived by her five children: Geraldine Cocozza, Barbara (Tony deceased) Esposito, Peter & Cindy Duddie, Jackie Mitchell and Bruce & Kay Duddie. Her 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; Chris &Dana (Dylan, Taylor & Mason) Esposito, Stacyann & Kevin (Aidan & Liam) Quimby, Sheri (Paul deceased) (Zachary, Isabella & Giovanni ) Anderson, Kim & Frankie (Jessica & Krissy) Testa. Yvonne & Alex (Kaitlyn) Kalbfell, Vanessa Duddie, Leah Duddie, PJ & Claudia (Vincenzo & Giana) Duddie, Ashley Duddie, Brooke Duddie and Eddie Mitchell.

Eleanor will be cremated and laid to rest with her late husband Peter (August 9,1985) at the Woodlawn Cemetery. Due to the current situation, there will be a Memorial Mass to celebrate Eleanor’s life at a later date.