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Laconia – Eleanor A. Gribben, 88, of 765 Union Avenue, Laconia died Sunday, August 6th, 2006 at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, New Hampshire.
Eleanor was born in East Orange, New Jersey on January 11, 1918. She was the daughter of Andrew John Anderson and Alma Christina Bjork, Swedish immigrants to America in the late 1800’s. Eleanor graduated from East Orange High School and the Berkeley Secretarial School in New Jersey. She went to work at the Livingston National Bank in Livingston, New Jersey after this graduation. In 1942 she met and married her beloved Allan Roy Gribben Jr. They made their home in New Jersey and had three children. Since Eleanor’s mother died when she was twelve, she was adamant that she would be home to raise her family. Eleanor left Livingston National Bank for over twenty years and then returned when her children were grown. She completed thirty years of service and retired at the age of sixty five as a valued and trusted employee. The three most important things to Eleanor throughout her life were her family, her faith, and her friends. Swedish tradition and culture, along with some very good chocolate chip cookies, were part of the life she gave her children.
They in turn gave Eleanor twelve grandchildren who loved and respected her. Over time, these twelve grandchildren gave her fifteen great-grandchildren, and Eleanor loved them all. To her, each one was special and unique, a perfect gift from God.
After spending 83 years in New Jersey, Eleanor made the decision to move to New Hampshire in September of 2001 to be closer to her daughter and her daughter’s family. She moved into Lake Village Apartments, located in Lakeport, and there she made numerous new friends, enjoyed many a game of bingo, and loved having her family close by her. Eleanor had a strong commitment to her faith and to her church, Saint Andrew’s Lutheran Church, in Parsippany, New Jersey. She enjoyed participating in the church’s activities, making life long friends. Although at the end of her life she could no longer attend church, she took comfort in her morning and evening prayers.
Eleanor was predeceased by her husband in 1970, and as she said, “she never met another man to love again.” She is also predeceased by two brothers, Hilmer and Allen Anderson. She is survived by her three children, Allan Roy Gribben, III, of Boca Raton, Florida, John Anderson Gribben of Jupiter, Florida, and Christina Alma Gribben of Holderness, New Hampshire. She is also survived by her twelve grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Eleanor’s favorite prayer was “I said A Prayer for You Today.” Today, Eleanor, we say a prayer for you, a prayer for a most beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.
There are no calling hours.
Services will be held in Parsippany, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the L. R. G. H. Nursing Education Fund, Attn: Ann Hamilton, Department of Philanthropy, 80 Highland Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is in charge of the arrangements.
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