Eleanor Burdick Shaw

ELEANOR BURDICK SHAW, 92, died Tuesday April 24, 2007 at Baldwinville Nursing Home, Baldwinville, Massachusetts. Born in Tioga County April 10, 1915, she was the only child of H. Horace Burdick and Grace McFall Burdick.

She married Stanley Wilson Shaw on August 31, 1940. Before her marriage Eleanor studied floriculture at Cornell University where she developed her lifelong interest in wildflowers and gardening. She loved exploring the woods and the wilds in all seasons and sharing her knowledge with her children.

Eleanor was a fishing companion to her husband Stan, often strolling along the banks of streams. She cleaned the smelt, froze the blueberries and marveled at the wild turkeys that nested nearby the family home on Irish Settlement Road in Dryden. Her family and friends will remember Eleanor for her love of flowers, feeding and watching birds, camping, traveling and in later years, caring for her African Gray parrot Tamu. She is also remembered for many years of participation in the Dryden Literary Club, Fortnightly Club and the Brooktondale Baptist Church Missionary Society.

Many of her interests and activities revolved around her children. Her great joy was loving and caring for her family, and in later years caring for her parents. She had compassion and grace. It was common for her to cook or run errands for sick friends or those who were troubled.

She was a resident of Tompkins County for 53 years before moving to Massachusetts to the home of her youngest daughter in 1997. After Eleanor lost her vision she was encouraged by acts of kindness, cards and prayers from many faithful old friends and family she treasured.

Eleanor is survived by her daughters June Shaw Hall and husband Harold of Oak Island, NC and Janice E. Shaw and husband Bill Bartell of Harwich, MA. Also her grandchildren Brian Grennell, Dallas, TX, Kristan Grennell Simon, Clifton Park, NY, Matthew Grennell, Orlando, FL, Lisa Hall Crook, Oak Island, NC and Geoffrey Hall, Bonita Springs, FL; great-grandchildren Kaitlyn Simon, Cameron Simon and Michael Crook.

Eleanor Burdick Shaw was preceded in death by her husband who passed away January 1, 1982, her daughter Diane Shaw Grennell 1984 and her husband Michael Grennell 1988, missionaries to Nairobi, E. Africa.

A family graveside service was held Saturday, April 28, 2007 at Green Hills Cemetery, Dryden, NY. A memorial service to celebrate the lives of Eleanor Shaw and Stanley Shaw will be held at a later date at Hogback on the shores of Cayuga Lake.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Baldwinville Nursing Home for the concern and care she received, and Carmen Pellerin who devoted much time to caring for Eleanor for over 10 years.

Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Brooktondale Baptist Church College Fund. Perkins Funeral Home of Dryden is in charge of arrangements.