Eleanor 'Ellie' Waterman

Eleanor M. "Ellie" Waterman, 91, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Canton, Massachusetts, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at The Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 14, 1923, at home in Lakewood, Rhode Island, one of three children of Frederick and Mary Ann McCarron Grant.

She was a 1941 graduate of Aldrich High School in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Ellie was a mother and homemaker. Before marriage she worked as an operator for New England Telephone and Telegraph. It was there she met Richard Waterman of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. They were married Oct. 18, 1947; he preceded her in death Dec. 10, 2012.

They resided in Warwick and then spent 41 years in Canton before moving to Cape Girardeau in 2005. They attended St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church.

Loving survivors include three children, David Waterman of Centerville, Massachusetts, Margaret Waterman and her husband Steven Hoffman of Cape Girardeau and Grant Waterman and his wife Shari of Raynham, Massachusetts; three grandchildren, Russell Hoffman of Philadelphia and Alexander and Nicholas Waterman of Raynham; a nephew, Gerald Grant and his wife Sharon of Lubbock, Texas; and many other nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Grant; and a brother, Arthur Grant.

Ellie was lovingly cared for by the kind, skilled and compassionate staff at the Lutheran Home Assisted Living East as she fought to be herself in the face of Alzheimer's disease.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Friday at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. David Hulshof officiating.

The family will receive visitors after the Mass from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. The Rev. S. Michael Malone, a dear friend, and pastor of St. Mark ELCA will share prayers.

Visitation in Warwick, Rhode Island, will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the chapel of Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home.

The committal will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Cemetery in Pawtucket.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Alzheimer's Association or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.