Obituary of Eleanor M. Cimini

On March 3, 2024, Eleanor (Ellie) Cimini (nee Marshall) of Lafayette Hill, PA, passed away at age 85.

Ellie led a full, rich life, which started in New Bedford, MA, where she was born on June 16, 1938.  She was a true “Cape-Codder” at heart.  Ellie grew up in Falmouth, MA, and held a strong connection to the area, always fondly remembering her childhood, family, and friends there.  

She and her best friend would walk from Palmer Avenue into town, with babysitting money, to pay 12 cents to see Roy Rogers movies and to window shop.  During the summer they would take the long walk down to her beloved Wood Neck Beach (and Little Sippewissett Marsh) with their little red wagon full of beach gear, where they would spend the whole day. Ellie held a lifelong love of the beauty of the ocean.

She graduated from Lawrence High School, Falmouth, MA, in 1956, and she remained lifelong friends with many of her schoolmates.  Shortly after graduating, she met a young airman (navigator), Lt. Guido J. Cimini, from Philadelphia, who was based nearby at Otis Air Force Base. They got married and started their family in Falmouth.   They were married for 41 years until his passing in 2000.   They were true soulmates who traveled the world together. 

Being an “Air Force Wife” meant moving, which sometimes left Ellie to handle the family alone, while Guido was away, sometimes on short notice and sometimes for extended periods.

 In 1961 the family moved from Falmouth, MA, to Yokota Air Force Base, outside of Tokyo, Japan.  During the few years there, the family grew, with the birth of their daughter.  Quite the experience for a young Cape Cod girl.

In 1964 the family returned to the U.S. from Japan to Lafayette Hill, PA.  Then on to McCoy ABF, in Orlando in 1966.  Then in 1968 they were finally able to settle in Lafayette Hill, where Ellie would remain for the next 56 years.

Despite all the travel, Lafayette Hill was where the family called “home”, and where they were members of St. Philip Neri Church.

The closely connected neighborhood allowed Ellie to make several close friends who did many things together that encompassed Ellie’s passions: gardening, painting, tennis and travel.  

Ellie was a homemaker while her children went to school. Then she was the Lead Hostess at Sugarloaf Conference Center, Chestnut Hill, for many years.  She loved being a hostess at Sugarloaf and was the ultimate hostess at home.  Ask anyone who was invited to lunch or dinner at Ellie’s.

All who knew Ellie knew of her love of beautiful things, whether it be her house, her garden, or her paintings.  She was a talented artist painting mostly what she knew best, Cape Cod, and won a few awards along the way. She and her friends would travel all over the area to attend painting classes to see new techniques or to share their own. Most of the wall art in her house is her own paintings.  She has paintings everywhere…she loved to create.   

Her creativity led her to become a member of the Whitemarsh Garden Club where she won over 100 awards for her plants and flowers.  She and her garden club friends attended the yearly Christmas House Tour without fail (it was certainly the highlight of her year) where she would be looking for new ways to decorate or to display flowers outside and inside during the holidays.  

Because she loved the ocean, it was no surprise that she and Guido bought a fixer-upper turned into summer home at Somers Point, NJ, in 1994.  For 24 years, she was beautifying the shore house and garden and swimming in the ocean.

Another passion of Ellie’s was to keep active and to continue to learn. She rode her bike, played tennis and swam regularly into her mid-70s.  She never passed up an opportunity to be in the water, whether it be the ocean, Flourtown Swim Club or Summit Park pool.  She also enjoyed dancing. She and the gals frequented the Blue Bell Inn and Whitemarsh Valley Inn back in the day for dancing and music by the likes of Jerry Vale (her favorite).  As she became less active, she tried her hand at Bridge-she caught on quickly and did well.  But as time went on, she turned to doing what she knew best…taking care of her yard and gardens. This was an activity she did for as long as she was able. As her neighbors can attest, Ellie had the most beautiful, tidiest yard on the block with not one leaf or stick out of place.  She was very proud of that.  

Ellie is predeceased by her husband Guido, two brothers Robert and Frank and a sister Marion. She leaves behind her children: Christopher Cimini (Rose), Susan Gayman (Bob), and Jeffrey Cimini, as well as four grandchildren: Michael, Guy, Grant, and William.

Ellie’s family wishes to thank the caring and skilled staff at Keystone Hospice in Wyndmoor, PA.  Their commitment and compassion touched us all.

Visitation and funeral service will be held at Lownes Funeral Home, 659 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, on Saturday, March 23 at 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Interment will be private.

Memorial Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (Alzheimer's Association Gift Link). [www.alz.org]