Eleanore Biletnikoff

Eleanore Biletnikoff, 89, passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, on December 13, 2025. She was born on March 25, 1936, in Lowell, Massachusetts, to Arthur “Artie” and Palmera (Machado) Rocha.

Eleanore grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts and later spent many years in Orlando, Florida, before making Houston, Texas her final home. She retired proudly in 2007, at age 71 from the United States Department of Homeland Security. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and sister; a woman of deep faith; and a bright light to all who knew her.

Anyone who knew her would tell you of her passion for music and singing. She loved going to church, listening to her Bible, karaoke, and dancing, and she carried herself with enthusiasm wherever she went. Above all, she had an unshakable faith—one that guided her throughout her life and inspired everyone around her. That faith sustained her deeply through the last two years of complete blindness. As she often said, “God is good all the time.”

Eleanore’s greatest joy in life was her family, and her love for them was constant and unwavering. She was the proud mother of seven children, grandmother of seventeen, and great-grandmother of twenty-six.

She is survived by her children: Joe (Patricia) Lepore, Debra Gravino, Jay Lepore, Laura (James “JT”) Motelet, Bill (Daphne) Allen, Mark Allen, and Audrey (David) Holcomb; her grandchildren: Mike, Zoe, Joey, Anthony, Michael John, James (Ariel), Douglas, Jimmy (Laura), Nick (Shanda), Parker (Kaleigh), Christina (Richard), Alexandra (Tyler), Mark (Ashley), Arthur James "A.J.", Heather, Chelsea (Adrian), and Dave (Karen) and her great-grandchildren: Dorothy, Marina, Michaela, Xenia, Simon, Alexis, Bentley, Jaxon, Isabella "Bella", Trevor (Gina), Carson, Drake, Presley, Mason, Madden, Layla, Lucille, Lauren, Naomi, Luke, Derek, Brody, Emilia, and Ethan. She is also survived by her beloved sisters, Carol (Skip) Szelest and Charlotte Dever.

Eleanore was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur “Artie” and Palmera (Machado) Rocha; her beloved husbands, Joe Lepore, William Allen, and Kenneth Biletnikoff; and her brothers, Peter, Arthur and Raymond Rocha.

Eleanore will be remembered for her strength, her devotion, and the love she gave so freely. Her faith, laughter, and presence will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Services
Services will be held at Veterans Funeral Services, 10567 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038, on Monday, December 29, 2025. Family and friends are asked to gather at 12:00 p.m., with the chapel service beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The services are open to all, the burial at the cemetery will be private, or immediate family members. Details regarding the Celebration of Life immediately following the service will be announced at the service.

Eleanore found comfort in the words of 2nd Timothy 4:6–8:

> “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
> I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
> Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eleanore’s memory to The Lighthouse of Houston for the Blind at https://houstonlighthouse.org/donate/

May her memory bring peace and comfort to all who were touched by her presence.