Eleanor Josephine (Petro) Coyle

She was born in Connecticut on March 8, 1927, the oldest child of Joseph and Sadonia (Tomasovic) Petro.

She is predeceased by her brother, Joseph Petro, and sister, Anna Marie Gnazzo. Her surviving brother is Robert (Hazel) Petro.

Eleanor grew up in Greenwich Village and the Bronx, NY. After marrying, she and her husband moved to Bay Shore, Long Island, where she lived and raised her family for 55 years. For the past ten years, she has enjoyed living with several of her children in their homes. There, she was able to see grandchildren, go out to eat, visit the Senior Center, crochet, feed birds and squirrels, and even dabble in watercolor painting. She was very proud of a silk scarf she painted.

Born with scoliosis (curvature of the spine), Eleanor was hospitalized at the age of 10, for five years, enduring six back surgeries. In a body cast for the entire time, and separated from her family, she listened to the radio, did schoolwork, read books (including Gone With the Wind), and watched cars crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, wondering where everyone was going. No TV or computers! As she aged, her back caused her pain, but she never let it stop her from doing anything!

While raising their seven children, Eleanor and Marty were foster parents, as well as babysitters for other children. From age 55 to 78, she was a Home Health Aide for the Town of Islip. She loved children and the elderly. She was also a volunteer at St. Mary’s Thrift Shop in East Islip, NY, always an avid thrift store shopper herself, right up until the day before she was hospitalized!

Eleanor was predeceased (1993) by her husband, Martin Francis Coyle, whom she married on February 16, 1947, son-in-law (2005), Mark McCartney, and daughter-in-law (2009), Linda Quinn.

Seven children survive her: Eileen (Ben) Kosiorowski, Kathleen Coyle (Michael O’Hara), Martin (Janice) Coyle, Patricia (Mark) Miller, Joseph Coyle, John (Eileen) Coyle, Edward Coyle (Sheryl Taylor).

Also surviving are 12 grandchildren: Brian (Linda) Kosiorowski, Jennifer (Larry) Neukam, Regina (Jeremy) Mackay, Jenette (Arlen) Alford, Mindy (Peter) Elniski, Martin, Lynn, Christina, Thomas, Amy, Haley, and Eleanor Hope Coyle.

Fourteen great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends survive her.

Eleanor loved her family, tending to flowers and plants, watching General Hospital and movies, and making people laugh. She will always be remembered as fun loving, flirty, energetic, generous, and feisty.

Eleanor Coyle, we will miss you! But, Sparky, your beloved dog, who has been waiting at the Pearly Gates, is running to greet you.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the Lion’s Club, Kidney Foundation, SPCA, or a charity of your choice.

A service was held on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at Adams-Green Funeral Home, Herndon, VA.

Friends and family are invited to attend a service and interment of ashes on Friday, August 21, 2015 at Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Blvd., Calverton, NY. Please arrive at 1 p.m.