Eleanore Horrigan Adams

Eleanore Horrigan Adams Known to loved ones and friends as "Mom", "Gran" or "Muff" Eleanore Horrigan Adams, passed on October 27, 2012. She was a long-time resident of the Havertown and Ardmore communities. She was born in Joliet, IL in 1921 to parents Owen and Eleanore, and was the oldest of three children; sister to her late brother Jim and survived by John (Budge). She was married in 1943 to the late James W. Adams, originally of Johnstown, PA, and retiree of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Beloved daughter, sister and wife; adored mother; revered grandmother, and Hall-of-Fame status great-grandmother - she was the rock of her family. If you only look within the bounds of her immediate family walls, the effect that she had on so many lives is immeasurable. When you take into account, however, all of the others with whom she interacted - friends, neighbors, parishioners, co-workers - and really any other person with whom she made acquaintance - there was truly no limit to the kindness, joy, and friendliness she was born absolutely hard-wired to share. Devoted to her family; supportive to anyone in need of care, advice, or help; extremely well read; an ardent supporter of The Phillies and the Fighting Irish; a staple at the Princeton Parade; a fierce bridge player and New York Times crossword puzzle completer; unwavering acknowledger of every birthday, anniversary, holiday with the perfect card and gift; a mental rolodex without rival; and a memory for names, dates, and past events like none other. These are just some of the things for which she will always be remembered. Despite only having a high school diploma, she successful navigated a twenty-year career in the Banking industry, which included several years as head teller at Lincoln (and previously, Continental) Bank. She was also an active volunteer in the St. Denis and St. John Neumann Parishes, where her families were very active. And her allegiances to Princeton University - her husband's alma mater - and the University of Notre Dame - where one of her uncles, both of her brothers, 3 of her sons, and 7 of her grandchildren studied - made her an honorary alumnae at both institutions. In the end, however, it was her gift for story-telling for which her family and loved ones will most remember and love her. She was a conversationalist - and listener - like none other. This was where she had a de facto PhD! In a day and age of information overload and too many sources constantly bombarding you with "noise", she possessed a gift for making even the most mundane story interesting - sparing no detail. One never walked away from an encounter with her without a new update on at least some member of her family - if not multiple members - nor would one leave without some new nugget of insight - a piece of history which made one more aware of the Adams legacy, and of the many, many things that made each family member part of who they are today. And ultimately in those stories, she built bridges between herself and her family with others, connecting us with each other through similar life experiences, shared feelings, mutual thoughts and understanding. If it's true that we're the sum of our parts, then it's safe to say that "Muff" was the master mathematician that kept adding her family all together - making them whole, and putting them back together whenever they needed it. She leaves behind the ultimate blueprint on how to lead a life as the consummate family member and friend, in the truest sense of the words. Survived by 8 children - Lynn, James W. Jr. (Gail), Peter (Patricia), A. Lloyd (Helen), John (Christa), Megan (Noreen), Robert (Celie), and Katherine; also 22 twenty-two grandchildren (10 of whom married, with at least one more planned in 2013); 18 great-grandchildren (and at least 3 more due to arrive in 2013). Visitation/Service: Relatives and friends celebrated her very full life at the funeral home of John J. Stretch in Havertown, PA on Friday November 2, 2012 and Saturday 8:15 to 9:15 AM on Saturday. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday 10 AM at the St. John Neumann Church in Bryn Mawr, PA. Interment was at St Denis Cemetery.