Eleanor Rose Henderson

Eleanor Rose Henderson, sweetness itself, died Nov. 9th 2024. She passed peacefully at the Ottawa Heart Institute, at the age of 89, with family by her side. 

Eleanor incarnated the qualities of kindness, zest for life, extraordinary strength, and love of laughter and friendship. She was born on Sept. 7th, 1935 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to Florence Annie (Rose) Atwood and Henry Willis Atwood. Eleanor, her mother, and two brothers, Gilbert Ashley Atwood and Glendon Howard Atwood, moved around the south shore of Nova Scotia in her growing years, as her widowed mother taught at schools near Robert’s Island and Arcadia.

 After graduating from Yarmouth High School at age 17, Eleanor went to teacher’s college in Truro and taught for several years before attending Acadia University. She then taught elementary school in Goose Bay, Labrador; Montreal; London, England; Ottawa; and Toronto. 

Possessed of an adventurous spirit, Eleanor loved to travel. She married the warm-hearted Wesley Erwin Henderson, of Minitonas, Manitoba, in 1964. Their home in Nepean was joyfully porous to the world. They lived in Kandy, Sri Lanka, from 1982-1984. 

In later years Eleanor was a most beloved ESL teacher in Ottawa. Her passion for helping refugees and immigrants adjust to life in Canada was recognized with a Welcoming Ottawa Week Ambassador award. She was an active member of the City View United Church community and a caregiver of unfathomable tenacity. She never ceased to marvel at beauty in the world. Her wisdom was profound; gratitude was her default perspective; she taught us that gentleness and strength were not contradictory. 

She is survived by her two daughters, Lisa Henderson and Jennifer Anne Henderson (Keith Denny); her grandchildren, Arthur Denny and Frances Denny; and her extended family, Grace John, Anan Thurairajah, and their daughters, Melani Anan and Cynthia Anan. She is predeceased by her husband, Wesley, and her brother, Glendon. In her last years, Eleanor made many friends at Colonel By Residence in Ottawa. 

Visitation and celebration of life will be Friday, Nov. 29th at City View United Church, with visitation from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by service from 2 to 3 p.m. and reception 3 to 4 p.m. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Caldwell Family Centre foodbank. 

For those unable to attend in person, please see link for livestream below.