Mrs. Eleanor C. Brazeau

Eleanor C. Brazeau, 84 of Pittsfield, passed away at home surrounded by her family on August 12, 2013 after courageously battling cancer for more than 20 years. Eleanor was born on July 28, 1929 in Pittsfield, MA to the late Getrude (Kiley) Collins and Dr. Roy L. Collins. Eleanor lived most of her life in Pittsfield, Mass. She graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1947 and from Our Lady of Victory Nursing School at the Benedictine Hospital in Kingston, NY in 1950 with a degree in Nursing. Eleanor worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Luke’s hospital in Pittsfield and also as a private duty nurse. In 1964 she took courses in Nursing Home Administration at Boston College and went on to become the administrator of several Springside Nursing Home facilities in Pittsfield. She opened and acted as administrator for the Dalton Convalescent Home (now known as Craneville Place). Eleanor and her husband Richard owned and operated the Lenox Package Store from 1970 to 1984. They made many friends in Lenox and sponsored the Lenox Package store men’s championship softball team for several years. In June of 1960, Eleanor was instrumental in bringing renowned medical missionary, Dr. Thomas Dooley to Pittsfield for several speaking engagements to packed audiences of adults and students in the community. Dr. Dooley passed away in January 1961 after his own battle with cancer. Eleanor was an avid sports fan and supporter of St. Joseph’s High School. She had a special eye for style, whether in fashion or in the garden. She was especially kind to animals and to anyone who needed a hand. She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield. Eleanor was predeceased by her first husband Edward Gosselin in 2003 and by her husband of 41 years, Richard L. Brazeau in 2005 and by her sister Dorothy Gross. Left to carry on Eleanor’s good work in this world are her children, Roy A. Gosselin and his wife Donna of Suffield, CT; John B. Gosselin and his wife Jennifer Saxton of Pittsfield, MA; Ann Marie Sadlowski and her husband Charles Gebaur of Savoy, MA; Richard C. Brazeau and his wife Juliana Mine of Redwood City, CA; and Daniel J. Brazeau and his wife Alexandra of Scituate, MA. Eleanor always told her grandchildren, who she was very proud of, to “Keep their eyes on the prize”. They are: Kiley Gosselin Tanner, Kelly Sadlowski, Courtney Gosselin Moller, Daniel Sadlowski, Emily Sadlowski, Nicole Gosselin, Christopher Brazeau, and Collin Brazeau. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Eleanor C. Brazeau will be Thursday, August 15, 2013 at 10:30 from the Dwyer Funeral Home with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church celebrated by the Rev. James K. Joyce, pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Thursday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Donations in Eleanor’s memory may be made to St. Joseph’s High School, care of Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St., Pittsfield MA 01201. DONATIONS CANNOT BE MADE ON THIS WEBSITE, but may be made through the Dwyer Funeral Home.

Mrs. Eleanor C. Brazeau

July 28, 1929 - August 12, 2013