Eleanor Foley

Eleanor Foley, 87, of Athens, GA, passed away on Thursday, October 31.

Ellie was born in Washington, DC, in 1937, but spent her first nine years living with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on a farm just north of Athens off of the Nowhere Road. When she was nine, she moved back to the Washington, DC area to live with her mother, Vernie Mae Blanch (nee Barnett) and stepfather, Andrew Blanch… Andy, whom she adored and who adopted her shortly thereafter.

After graduating from St. Mary’s Academy in Arlington, Virginia, in 1956, Ellie began working at the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC, as a receptionist in George Meany’s office. She would always speak glowingly of her experiences there, especially the friendships she made and times when a handsome young senator from the great state of Massachusetts would stop by to meet with Mr. Meany.

In 1960, she married John Foley, and settled in Fairfax, Virginia, where they welcomed into the world Thomas in 1962 and Patrick in 1964. As a stay-at-home Mom, she wrapped herself up in raising her two boys, providing a wonderful home filled with amazing experiences.

With the family moving to Athens in 1967, she became heavily involved in St. Joseph Catholic Parish Church and School on Prince Avenue, volunteering to help with classroom parties, supervising Christmas plays, organizing field day events, participating in the PTA, chaperoning Boy Scout camp-outs, making salad for spaghetti suppers, serving as “The Hot Dog Lady” for lunch on Fridays (except in Lent, of course), and making life-long friendships.

In 1976, Ellie began working as a secretary in the Pharmacy Care Administration Faculty at the University of Georgia. After her sons were off to college and beyond, Ellie’s travels took her to Chicago, Columbus, OH, and Atlanta, and eventually back to Athens, where she retired. Along the way, she was a bank secretary, a legal secretary, and even got to work for her beloved Sara Lee, home of the Pound Cake.

But Ellie’s greatest role was yet to come. Beginning with Tim in 1997, she became a grandma – Grammie Ellie. Tim was followed by Lucy, Jane, Bernie, Andy, Michael, and Matas, all of whom brought her so much joy and satisfaction until it was her time to go Home.

Ellie will always be remembered for her smiling face, he infectious laughter, and her obsessions with all things related to the Bulldawgs, the Braves, and the 1996 Summer Olympics, as well as snowmen and lighthouses.

Ellie was preceded in death by her parents, Vernie and Andy, and her husband John. She is survived by her sons, Thomas (Rita) and Pat, as well as her seven grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at Lord & Stephens funeral home on Lexington Road from 5:00 to 7:00 on Wednesday, November 6. A funeral Mass will be held at The Catholic Center of the University of Georgia on Lumpkin Street beginning at 2:00PM on Thursday, November 7, with the burial service to follow at the Pittman Cemetery off Pittman-Matthews Road in Madison County. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Catholic Center at UGA, St. Joseph Catholic Parish School in Athens, or Athens Academy.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, East, Athens, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com