Eleanor G. Engel died in November a few days before her 96th birthday.

Born to Frank and Alice Green of East Longmeadow, she was the third of four children.

Eleanor had a talent and love for art. She attended American International College (AIC) in Springfield, where she took art classes and was recommended to Package Machinery Company in East Longmeadow as a prospective detail draftsman where, in the early 1940s, she was the first and only woman detail draftsman at the company. For over 10 years, she successfully drew the details of machine parts for all the engineers who designed machines.

She met her future husband, Glenn, an engineer at Package, when he returned from service in the U.S. Naval Air Corps. They were married in 1946, and built a home in Wilbraham on the mountain, and raised their two children. They were members of the Wilbraham United Church.

Over the years, Eleanor was a member of the Wilbraham Mother’s Club, the Wilbraham Garden Club and later, when her children had grown, she was active in the South-End Neighborhood Club where she would frequently take her young granddaughter with her.

In 1963, Eleanor and Glenn bought a gingerbread cottage on the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association grounds in Oak Bluffs, and for 42 years, spent their summers at the beach, where other friends from Wilbraham gathered and new friends were made.

Eleanor returned to her oil and watercolor painting in the relaxing summer months, and the Vineyard summers became a blessed way of life for her and her children. For many years, her young granddaughter, Holly stayed with Gram throughout the summers, and they had a special bond.

In the late 1970s upon seeing her artwork in a show, the head of the JanLynn Corp asked her to design needlework kits for their business. Eleanor agreed and became a successful needlework designer for JanLynn Corp for 23 years, working from home. Her name shows up on the flysheets of every kit she designed. Many of her designs are still sold across the U.S., Canada, and are available on the internet today.

When her husband died in 2008, Eleanor answered the call to help their son raise his two young sons. She moved to Randolph, Vt., where she has remained living until her recent death, all the while loving and watching her grandsons grow up.

In addition to her husband of 62 years, she was predeceased by her two brothers, Frank A. Green and Dorrance T. Green and one sister, Elizabeth A. Howe.

She is survived by her daughter, Lois D. (Norton) Gowen (nee Engel), son Glenn R. Engel 3rd; three grandchildren, Holly T. Norton, Colt G. Engel, Kurt R. Engel; and one great-grandson, Liam D. Larsen.

A small memorial service and interment will take place at a later date at Hillcrest Cemetery in Springfield.