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September 30, 1918  -  December 5, 2022

Eleanor Mary Calcott died peacefully, aged 104, at Rotary Hospice in Stratford, on Monday December 5, 2022. She was predeceased by her husband Al Calcott in 1962; her sister and brother-in-law, Sheila, and Bob Reed; brother and sister-in-law Walter and Betty Rae; her daughter Nancy and son-in-law Jack Pigeon.

Eleanor was born in Stratford on September 30, 1918, near the end of the first World War and at the height of the Spanish Influenza pandemic. She was the daughter of the late Simon and Louise (Dunsmore) Rae and was raised on the family farm between Stratford and St. Mary’s. In June 1940 she married Al Calcott after an extremely brief courtship so that she could accompany him to his new job as a chicken sexer in New Zealand. However, after one year there, due to the threat of war with Japan, they chose to return to Canada on the last passenger ship leaving for North America. Back in Canada, the couple settled in Byron Ontario (now London) and soon had a family of four- Dianne, Nancy, Barbara, and Michael. In 1952, they purchased her parent’s rest home in Stratford at 198 Mornington Street. While Al travelled frequently for work, Eleanor was responsible for the day-to-day management of the rest home and raising the children. Al died in 1962 but Eleanor continued to manage and grow the business, finally selling it in 1975. In her retirement, she spent her time traveling, golfing, curling, playing cards, gambling, and spoiling her growing number of grandchildren. In 1982 she retired to her home in Glendon Road, living quietly but independently until September of this year.

Eleanor leaves behind three of her children – Dianne (Peter) Hiller, Barbara (Michael) Reinert, and Michael Calcott, nine grandchildren – Brent (Allison) Hiller, Chris (Kevin) Hiller, Barb (Mark) Hiller Thibeault, Simon (Sharon) Hiller, Steve (Deb) Pigeon, Suzanne (John) Frank, Jeff (Becky) Pigeon, Josh (Erin) Reinert, and Gretchen (Shane) Sparling and a large number of great-grandchildren.

Visitation will take place at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Thursday, December 8, from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Interment at Avondale Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to Rotary Hospice Stratford or the charity of one’s choice through the funeral home. 519.271.7411 www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com