Eleanor McDonnell nee Colangelo – “Elle” – passed away peacefully in her seashore home in Ocean City on Friday, August 13th, 2021.
Born in Darby, PA on July 21, 1929, Elle was a classically trained artist and a 1947 graduate of Upper Darby High School where she was well known for having painted all the sceneries for the musicals during her time there. She also attended Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, PA.
Elle married her beloved husband Charles “Ace” McDonnell on October 16, 1948 at Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church in Drexel Hill, PA where they lived together for 60 years and raised their three daughters, Gail Fraser of Ocean City, Arleen Stone of Tampa, FL and Lynn Murphy of Boca Raton, FL.
In addition to being an accomplished artist, Elle was also the trusted assistant to the Vice President of Belle Savings in Wynnewood, PA for many years. She was a Realtor in Media, PA and then later in Exton, PA where she worked at Arnolmont Realty. She was a wise investor and could always be relied upon by her children and grandchildren for sound and sage advice.
Elle was social and fun, always up for somewhere to go or something different to do. She was a member of the Ladies of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Red Hatters of Ocean City. She was a lover of sunsets, especially the ones she remembered from her childhood where her family had a home in Townsends Inlet, NJ.
Almost to the last months of her life, Elle made certain to take a daily “salt air walk” up to the boardwalk to people watch or down to the 12th street pavilion to sit and chat with neighbors or to catch some crabs. Eleanor painted her last masterpiece as recently as March, and her many works of art will be a legacy that shall live on.
Survivors include her children Gail (Doug) Fraser, Arleen (Lee) Stone, Lynn Murphy. Grand children Chad (Kristin) Gallagher, Lynn Marie (RJ) Baxter, Ryan (Virginia) Gallagher, Brian Stone, Jeffrey (Megan) Stone, Paul (Sheena) Murphy, Pamela (Philip) Harvey. Great grandchildren Mia Gallagher, Dylan Gallagher, Chase Baxter, Brynn Gallagher, Shea Gallagher, Ava Baxter, Drew Harvey, Piper Harvey, Matilda Murphy, Garrett Harvey, Jameson Stone and Mason Stone. Elle has one surviving brother, Albert Colangelo and was preceded in death by her beloved husband “Charlie” and her sisters Rose Fleming and Ann Haigh.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Monday, August 23rd at Saint Augustine’s Catholic Church in Ocean City where friends may call from 10:30 am until the time of service. Burial will follow in Seaside Cemetery, Palermo, NJ.
For condolences to the family, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com
