Shrewsbury – Eleanor B. (Bott) Gregory, 85, of Shrewsbury, passed away peacefully Jan. 17, 2019 in the comfort of her home at Tatnuck Park. Her loving husband of 50 years, Edward Gregory, and their daughter, Doreen A. Needham, both predeceased her in 2002.
Eleanor was the loving mother of seven children, six of whom survive her: three daughters, Donna L. Lavoie and her husband Edward, Mary Ellen Gregory, and Karen M. Tainter and her husband Paul, all of Worcester, and three sons, James E. Gregory and his wife Nancy of Shrewsbury, Paul D. Gregory of Boylston, and Peter J. Gregory and his wife Dawn of Watertown. She is also survived by a brother, George Bott of Millbury; nine grandchildren, George Lavoie, Matthew Lavoie and his wife Elizabeth, Laura Klein and her husband Harrison, Paige Needham, Kelly Gregory, Amy Gregory, Neil Tainter, Sarah Tainter, and Emma Gregory; five great-grandchildren, Edward, Theodore, Caitlin, Sarah, and Acadia; and many nieces and nephews.
Eleanor was one of six children born to Mary (Kosciuczyk) Bott and raised by Joseph Bedugnis, who later married her mother and is the man Eleanor knew as her father. She was predeceased by four siblings, Peter Bott, who was lost in the Vietnam War, Fred Bott who was killed in action during the Korean Conflict, Mary Dusak, and Jane Rivers.
Having been born in North Easton, she was raised in Worcester. She graduated from Commerce High School, later moving to Leicester, finally settling in Shrewsbury in 1962.
She was a long-time member of Saint Mary’s Church, but was married in and celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary in Saint John’s Church in Worcester.
For many years, Eleanor was a custom drapery maker and very proud of the many installations she was involved with throughout the area. In her retirement she was honored to be a driver for special needs students and was delighted to watch them progress as they grew.
She was a member of the National League of Families, and with her mother was a member of Gold Star Mothers. Having been involved in Veterans support, through the loss of her brothers, it was her pleasure to travel with her husband throughout the United States for the many veterans meetings and War Memorial dedications he was involved with.
Eleanor was dedicated to her family and was proud to be involved in their activities, including her daughter’s soccer games, and sharing holidays. She enjoyed bowling, the Red Sox, taking long walks, and supporting Native American causes. In her most recent years, she enjoyed baking, going on outings, painting, and other activities at Tatnuck Park, where she truly loved everyone there, and had so many friends including staff.
Her family would like to thank the wonderful people at Tatnuck Park, Trinity Hospice, and Worcester Homecare for their exceptional care and love shown to Eleanor.
Calling Hours will be held Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 4-7 p.m., in Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Her funeral will be Wednesday, Jan. 23 from the funeral home, departing in procession at 9:40 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Saint John’s Church, 44 Temple St., Worcester. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Tatnuck Park, 340 May St., Worcester, MA 01602 or to Trinity Hospice, 543 Southwest Cutoff, Suite 9, Worcester, MA 01607.
