Eleanor Potter

Eleanor G. Potter, 82, of Essex Center, VT, passed away at her home on April 12, 2023. She was born on September 11, 1940, in Providence, RI, to Aurilla Hurd Gladding and Royal H. Gladding, both of whom preceded her in death. Ellie was the loving wife of 64 years to Carl L. Potter, Jr., and a devoted mother to Jennifer (Jae) Diego Oury, and Carl L. Potter, III. She was also a doting grandmother to Olivia Potter and a cherished mother-in-law to David Oury and Audra Potter.
Ellie attended Saint Johnsbury Academy where she played clarinet in the marching band, graduating in 1958. She went on to attend nurses training at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, where as a "substitute blind date" she met her future husband, Carl. They eloped three months later.
Ellie's career was spent as a homemaker and librarian at Essex Free Library in Essex, VT, where she made many lasting connections with her colleagues and patrons. She particularly enjoyed working in the children's section and creating inventive displays for library programming such as the "Peer Amid the Books" summer reading program.
She was an active member of the St. James Episcopal Church parish serving as the vestry secretary, coordinating and planting flowers for the memorial garden, and heading up menus for the "Ecumenical Lunch Bunch," which provided free lunches to school age children in coordination with other Essex area churches over summer vacation.
In her free time, Ellie enjoyed pursuing her hobbies of painting, drawing, gardening, sewing, and playing the recorder. Her creativity knew no bounds, and she found joy in creating beautiful things with her hands including Halloween costumes, wedding dresses, and new needlepointed kneelers for St. James' sanctuary. She was legendary for her cooking and the next generation finds it challenging to keep as many variations of Christmas cookies readily in stock for the holidays.
A hallmark of Ellie's life was her countless and lifelong dear friends. People of all ages were drawn to her and she loved nothing better than sharing good conversation in person or on the phone right up until the end of her life.
Ellie is also survived by her sister Marian Winch, brother-in-law Gary Winch, her nephew Gary Winch, Jr., and her niece Kristin Zimmermann, as well as her great-nephews Ian Winch and Drew Zimmermann, and great-niece Jordan Zimmermann. Additionally by her brother-in-law Spencer Potter, sister-in-law Mary Jane Potter, nephews Spencer Potter, Jr. and Eric Potter, great-nephews Riley Potter and Beck Potter, and great-niece Lola Potter, as well as her sisters-in-law Louise Potter and Jeannie B. Phillips, nieces Erika Phillips and Lisa Phillips, and great-nieces Helen Phillips-Roper and Arabella Scott.
The family offers a heart-felt thank you to all our close friends and is more than grateful to her wonderful caregivers at UVM Home Health and Hospice.
A service to celebrate Ellie's life will be held on Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:30 AM, at Saint James Episcopal Church in Essex Junction, Vermont.