Eleanor Frances Yankowski

GARDNER - Eleanor Frances (Shaw) Yankowski, 86, of 115 Lovewell Street, Gardner, died Monday, December 7, 2009 at the home of her nephew in Hudson, New Hampshire. Mrs. Yankowski was born in Gardner on January 19, 1923, the daughter of the late Charles R. and the late Grace E. (Whipple) Shaw. She was a lifelong resident of Gardner and graduated from Gardner High School with the class of 1940. Many years ago, she worked for the New England Telephone Company, the former Florence Stove Company, and the former Gardner State Hospital as a switchboard operator. Upon the closing of the Hospital, Mrs. Yankowski was employed as an occupational therapist for the Rutland State Hospital and the Worcester State Hospital until her retirement in 1986. She was a devout member of the Sacred Heart Church in Gardner and was been a communicant of the Holy Spirit Church since it first opened several years ago. She was a former member of the Greater Gardner Guild Holy Family League of Charity and was a life member of the Gardner Golden Age Club and the local chapter of A.A.R.P. She leaves a sister, Alice Pacocha of Gardner; five nephews, James Pacocha and his wife Carol of Hudson, NH, David Pacocha of Gardner, William Pacocha and his wife Nancy of Lanesboro, MA, Stephen Pacocha and his wife Lois of Lake Worth, FL, Thomas Pacocha of Seattle, WA, and sixteen great nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her husband, Walter J. Yankowski, in September of 1975, and by her twin brother, Bernard Shaw. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the Holy Spirit Church, 50 Lovewell St., Gardner. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Gardner. Calling hours will be held Friday, December 11, 2009 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in her memory to the House of Peace and Education, 20 Barthel Avenue, Gardner, MA 01440. $(document).ready(function(){ });