Eleanor McElhaney obituary: Eleanor McElhaney's Obituary, Topeka

In Memory Of
Eleanor McElhaney
1927 - 2021

Obituary photo of Eleanor McElhaney, Topeka-KS
Obituary photo of Eleanor McElhaney, Topeka-KS

In Memory Of
Eleanor McElhaney
1927 - 2021

Eleanor McElhaney, of San Diego, CA, died peacefully at her assisted living home on Sunday, July 11, 2021, with her daughter, Trinet, by her side. Eleanor was 94. She was the beloved mother of Sherri (Mike) and Trinet (Steve); grandmother of Ellen (Jordan), Joshua and Jacob; aunt of Nancy; and great aunt of Carl, Cindy, Heather and Steven.

Eleanor was born in St. Marys, Kansas, and graduated from St. Marys High School. After high school, Eleanor attended Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia, Kansas, where she met her future husband, Gene McElhaney. The family moved several times and then settled in Topeka in 1964.

Eleanor began working at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas after her two daughters entered high school and worked there more than twenty years until she retired in 1992. After retirement, Eleanor enjoyed being with friends, traveling, watching college basketball, and walking at Washburn for exercise. She lived in Topeka for 48 years until she moved to San Diego in 2012 to be near her daughter.

A memorial service for Eleanor will be held at the Mt. Hope Cemetery Mausoleum in Topeka, 4700 SW 17th, on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. The family welcomes friends of Eleanor to attend. Arrangements are entrusted to Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, penwellgabeltopeka.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association at heart.org or sending to 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.

To leave a message for her family online, please click the "Share Memories" button above.
Eleanor McElhaney, of San Diego, CA, died peacefully at her assisted living home on Sunday, July 11, 2021, with her daughter, Trinet, by her side. Eleanor was 94. She was the beloved mother of Sherri (Mike) and Trinet (Steve); grandmother of Ellen (Jordan), Joshua and Jacob; aunt of Nancy; and great aunt of Carl, Cindy, Heather and Steven.

Eleanor was born in St. Marys, Kansas, and graduated from St. Marys High School. After high school, Eleanor attended Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia, Kansas, where she met her future husband, Gene McElhaney. The family moved several times and then settled in Topeka in 1964.

Eleanor began working at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas after her two daughters entered high school and worked there more than twenty years until she retired in 1992. After retirement, Eleanor enjoyed being with friends, traveling, watching college basketball, and walking at Washburn for exercise. She lived in Topeka for 48 years until she moved to San Diego in 2012 to be near her daughter.

A memorial service for Eleanor will be held at the Mt. Hope Cemetery Mausoleum in Topeka, 4700 SW 17th, on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. The family welcomes friends of Eleanor to attend. Arrangements are entrusted to Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, penwellgabeltopeka.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association at heart.org or sending to 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.

To leave a message for her family online, please click the "Share Memories" button above.

Services & Gatherings

Memorial Service

Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 10:00am
Mount Hope Cemetery Mausoleum ~ 4700 SW 17th Street Topeka, KS 66604

Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home (785-354-8558) is assisting the family

Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home (785-354-8558) is assisting the family

Guestbook

Condolence messages can be comforting to family and friends who are experiencing a loss.

Click "Share Memories" above to leave your message.