Eleanor D. Cleaver

Eleanor D. Cleaver, age 101, of Odessa, Delaware died June 4, 2025, in Christiana Hospital Newark, Delaware.
Eleanor was the fourth daughter born February 8, 1924, in Wilmington, DE to the late Albert Henry Donovan and Emma Carpenter Donovan. Eleanor was a graduate of Middletown High School. She attended The Wilmington Academy of Art, now the Delaware Art Museum.
She was employed at Dupont Co. Engineering Dept. as a junior draftsman 1942-1943. She was employed by Winterthur for 39 years as a tour guide at Historic Houses of Odessa and she was a member of Winterthur's Quarter Century Club.
She was married to the love of her life, Frederick R. Cleaver, Sr. June 19, 1943, and they were married for 50 years. She was a member of the St. Paul's United Methodist Church and was the oldest living member. She served her church by being a former member of the choir, a communion steward, and served as a Bible School teacher. She was a charter member and also served as a past president of the Women's Club of Odessa.
Eleanor was a lover of music and dance, flora and fauna, cooking, and she was an avid bridge player. Eleanor was blessed with a loving family.
She was predeceased by her husband, Fred, her sons, Frederick R. Cleaver, Jr. and Isaac Green Cleaver II (I G) and sisters, Louise Smith, Mary Turner, and Henrietta Erickson.
She is survived by her son, Jon Christopher and his wife Lorraine, her daughters-in-law, Paulette Cleaver Lazzaro and Suzanne Cleaver. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Robie Cleaver, Kelly Jones (Ed), Susan Calhoun (Dan), Shannon Fowler (Rob), Jon Cleaver (Tammie), Scott Cleaver, and Matthew Cleaver (Cara) and her great-grandchildren, Lexi, Abigail, EJ, Christopher, Elizabeth, Caroline, Isaac, Madison, Nicholas, Dean, Ellie, and Amelia.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 17 at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 North Broad Street, Middletown, Delaware at 11 am. A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 am. Burial will follow in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Port Penn.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 253, 406 Main St. Odessa, DE 19730 or The Women's Club of Odessa, P.O. Box 254 Odessa, DE 19730