Eleanor Fraize

Newton - The secret to Eleanor Fraize's long life was keeping active. She kept her mind, body and spirit active up until her last breath on Friday, October 30, 2015 when she died at the Stone Health & Rehabilitation Center in Newton. She was 104.

Eleanor Hart Taylor was born April 27, 1911 in Waltham a daughter of the late Ernest W. and Lillian (Derry) Taylor. Raised and educated in Waltham she graduated from Waltham High School. A talented musician Eleanor taught piano and her first adult student was a young man named Reginald E. Fraize. It's been said 'where words fail music speaks' and in their case they did. 'Reg' as she affectionately called him and 'Fuzzy' as he coined her dated and married on January 17, 1935 in the First Congregational Church in Waltham. They lived many years in Waltham before moving to Newton where she became a loving caregiver to Margaret Lally for over 40 years.

Eleanor stayed at home to raise her five children. She later worked at JC Penney and Robert Halls. She was the longtime organist and music director at the former Immanuel Methodist Church on Moody Street and other area churches throughout Boston during her lifetime. In earlier years she was a member of the 'Bruneau Trio' and would perform at various venues throughout New England. Eleanor's needs were few and blessings were bountiful. She took pleasure in life's simple events and had a natural ability to be void of bitterness and cynicism. Well into her nineties she took no medication other than an occasional aspirin, still drove her car, remembered names and birthdates of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, had an email account and was ordering her groceries online from Peapod. Her long well lived life is example for her family and friends.

Her husband of 56 years, Reginald Fraize died December 17, 1991 and she is predeceased by her son, John E. Fraize and all of her siblings, Preston Taylor, Mary A. Taylor, identical twins Florence Banks and Frances Uhlig.

She leaves her children, Willard E. Fraize and his wife, Barbara of Reston, Virginia, identical twin sons, Laurence E. Fraize and his wife, Sandra of Cotuit, Kenneth A. Fraize and his wife, Claire of Waltham and Virginia M. Hilpert of Billerica; 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Eleanor's life by gathering from 10 – 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning, November 3rd in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham followed by her Funeral Service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery.

Memorials in her name may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice, 800 West Cummings Park Drive #3400, Woburn, MA 01801or to Stone Rehabilitation & Senior Living Rehabilitation, Employees Activity Fund, 277 Elliot Street, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464