Eleanor Mae Gullette

Eleanor Mae Gullette, age 86, of Stoneham, passed away on November 1, 2016, after a long series of illnesses, including Alzhiemer’s disease. She lived in Stoneham for the past 62 years along with her recently deceased husband, William F. (Bill) Gullette. Even though Eleanor didn’t seem to understand that Bill had died on September 29th, she must have missed him.
Eleanor was born in Somerville, MA; daughter of the late Stephen and Ella (Ferrior) Kolesnik. After attending college at Boston University, Eleanor worked at John Hancock in Boston along with her husband. She was adept at bookkeeping and accounting, but soon became a full time mother and housewife. Eleanor was an active member and volunteer at the First Congregational Church in Stoneham as a Deaconess, baked for Sunday coffee hours and worked church dinners. She also helped organize and worked the annual Rummage Sales and November Church Fairs, where she would make some of the most beautiful Christmas ornaments and decorations to help raise funds for the church.
She was a Den Mother and Troop Leader when her children were in scouts. Her creative talents helped her scouts win various competitions. She excelled at sewing and knitting and had an eye for fashion that was truly amazing. She was an accomplished seamstress who made a lot of her own clothes, as well as those for family and friends. She never went far without her knitting needles.
After surviving breast cancer, she would volunteer to help others with the battle that she had won. Eleanor and Bill were members of WGBH and the Quannapowitt Players in Reading. She loved to travel, swim and snow ski. In their travels, Eleanor was the photographer. They saw a lot of America while still working and enjoyed many international trips after Bill retired, including the British Isles, Iceland, France, Italy, Russia and the Scandinavian countries.
She leaves her son, Jason Gullette and his wife Marsha of Denver, CO and her daughter, Renee Flynn and her husband Timothy of Stoneham. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Christopher, Jacob and Molly Flynn and her brother, Stephen Kolesnik of Nashua, NH.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, November 9th at 10 A.M. in the First Congregational Church, 1 Church St., Stoneham, followed by burial in Lindenwood Cemetery, Stoneham. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472.