Eleanor (Teddy) Clark passed away peacefully in her sleep on, February 9th. She was a beautiful (insert Teddy eye rolling), kind, passionate, funny, supportive, and all around awesome woman. She was the matriarch of a growing and patchworked family that she loved immensely. A lifelong encourager and grumbler - Teddy had the ability to celebrate life’s victories and lament its challenges in the same breath, giving credit to the value that each held. She had amazing perspective and wisdom that she loved to share with others. Teddy did everything in her own way and in her own time, and her passing was no different.
A Jersey girl from Collingswood, Teddy was a tomboy who grew up playing baseball with her neighborhood gang. She graduated from Ursinus, where she played field hockey and softball; she was also an inspired girl scout leader, photographer, gardener and musician. An avid reader, researcher, traveler, activist and supporter of the arts, Teddy led a full and active life. She worked and retired from the State Hospital in Norristown, PA and raised two wonderful children. She was the Mom Pom, the one and only GMC and the ultimate “I'll have a sip” gal. She was a daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend.
Teddy was headstrong, stubborn and sassy. She refused to be held back by her age, particularly when it came to her many plans and dreams. She was a passionate activist, who aspired to save the world, or at least leave it better off. She was a teacher and a student who always wanted for more: more adventure, more travel, more books, more love, more life.
Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting Teddy met a friend. She had a wealth of knowledge, stories and life experiences. She loved television, reading, traveling, politics, science fiction, animals, environmentalism and her friends and family. Teddy taught us how to love and be loved unconditionally, how to laugh, how to own our issues and how to truly value life, even when life was crappy. She was an amazing example of knowing oneself, loving oneself, working on oneself, and cultivating deep and authentic love with those around us.
We are immensely grateful for the time we had with her and the encouragement she left us with, as well as the incredible model of a life well lived.
Relatives and friends are invited to her memorial service on Saturday March 6 at 1PM. Guests may pay respects from 12:30 - 1PM at the funeral home.
Please do not send flowers but instead, consider giving a gift to Save the Boundary Waters, an organization committed to protecting and preserving one of Teddy’s favorite places in the world.
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