Eleanor Behney

Groton - Eleanor Behney, 87, passed away peacefully Aug. 7, 2011, at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, with family at her side after fighting her second courageous battle with cancer.

Born May 4, 1924, in Bayonne, N.J., she was the daughter of Philip and Caroline (Shanosky) Pierce. Raised in Glen Gardner, N.J., she commuted back to Bayonne in the early days of World War II, taking a job in the design business office of Electric Boat Company's Elco Naval Division.

There she would meet her future husband, Edward J. Behney, whom she married in 1943.

While at Elco, Eleanor was first honored by Electric Boat, selected to be the ship's sponsor of PT138 and presiding over the "turning of the hull" ceremony, a major milestone in construction of PT boats. After the war, she was sought after by the company as a model and featured in several advertising photos and brochures promoting Elco's famous luxury yachts. When Elco closed its doors in 1949, her husband transferred to Electric Boat's parent facility in Groton, and the growing family moved to New London. There, Eleanor would start her new career as a full-time homemaker devoted to raising her seven active young children. Outgrowing their home in New London by 1960, the family moved again, this final time to the Eastern Point section of Groton, where she would reside until her recent illness.

In 1967, Eleanor was honored a second time by Electric Boat, selected to weld her initials to the hull of the USS Flying Fish (SSN 673) at the ship's keel laying ceremony.

In addition to being a wife and busy mother, she was active in many community affairs, volunteering her services to various civic and charitable organizations including Child & Family Services, Catholic Charities, Auxiliary of the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Alzheimer's Support Group, and served on the board of directors of the Norwich State Hospital Auxiliary and the Visiting Nurses Association. Eleanor was passionate about mental health issues and from her position on the Eastern Regional Mental Health Board, was a strong public advocate of the need for mental health education and community support.

She enjoyed travel with her husband to several European countries and in later years journeyed to Central America, the Far East, and took her family on a cruise through the Panama Canal. She was especially fond of reminiscing over photos of herself and cousin, Doris Hudak, strolling the Great Wall of China.

"El" had a vivacious personality and was a strong and active person throughout her life. She refused to allow neither her first bout with cancer more than 10 years ago, nor her worsening arthritis to slow her down. Up until late spring of this year, she was a familiar figure to be seen walking the neighborhoods of Eastern Point, working hard in her various gardens, and preparing the beautiful geranium flower boxes that have adorned the family homestead porch railings for the past 50 years.

Her husband, the former vice president of operations at Electric Boat, predeceased her in 1989.

Surviving are her children, Joyce Gardner and her husband, Glenn, of Gales Ferry, Edward Behney Jr. and his wife, Linda, of Waterford, Doris Watson and her husband, John, of Needham, Mass., Jean Behney of Groton, Helen Behney of Mystic, Kristen Behney, with whom she made her home in Groton, and Philip Behney of Stonington; four grandchildren, Nathan Gardner of Newton, Mass., Matthew Gardner of Stony Brook, Long Island, N.Y., Winslow Behney of Pawcatuck, and Curran Behney of Mystic; two step grandchildren, Ryan O'Connor of New London and Stefanie Montejano and her husband, Apolonio, of Groton; and three step great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Carol Smith of Glen Gardner, N.J.; as well as several cousins, nephews, and a niece.

Calling hours will be from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, at Byles Memorial Home, 99 Huntington St., New London, followed by a celebration of Eleanor's life that same evening between 6:30 and 9 p.m. at the Branford House, Avery Point, Groton. Burial services will be private.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to GYN Oncology Group, hospice, nurses and staff at Women & Infants Hospital for their truly professional and compassionate care of Eleanor in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory made be made to any charities mentioned above or to one of your own choosing.

Please visit www.byles.com for directions or to leave a condolence note for the family.