top of page

Eleanor Schellenberg

Image by Nick Andréka

ELEANOR RUNA SCHELLENBERG

(née SIGURDSON)

December 21, 1932 - February 29, 2024

Surrounded by family, Eleanor passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 29th, 2024 at Riverview Health Centre. 


Eleanor is survived by David, her adoring husband of 65 years; sisters, Helen and Barbara; brother Solberg; loving children, Steven (Eve), Shirley (Wilf), Christopher (Shelley) and Michael; and her beloved grandchildren Kristjan (Michaela), Amelia, Signy, Sam, Ava and Daniel.


Eleanor, the second daughter of Stefan and Runa, grew up in Riverton on the Icelandic River. At eighteen, she moved to Winnipeg, where she studied at United College (BA) as part of the class of 1954, and finished off with a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. During her school years, she developed a loyal and loving group of friends, known affectionately as the Sparling Darlings. It was as a new social worker with the Children's Aid Society of Winnipeg that she met Dave, and she continued to work in the field into her sixties. Eleanor and Dave married in 1959.


Eleanor loved to laugh with her family and many lifelong friends and was known for her wry wit, her gracious spirit and her deeply compassionate heart. She was a dedicated volunteer in her community, an avid reader, a bridge player and theatregoer, and she always enjoyed a good visit over a cup of coffee at her home in Windsor Park. Eleanor spent her summer in Hnausa on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, surrounded by cherished relatives and friends in a cottage that rings out with music and laughter. 


"Deep in December, it's nice to remember

Although you know the snow will follow.

Deep in December, it's nice to remember

The fire of September that made us mellow.

Deep in December, our hearts should remember

And follow, follow, follow..."


The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the careworkers that provided such comfort to Eleanor over her final years at home.


A celebration of life will be held at the cottage this coming summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity in her honour.


Eleanor's family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

Memories, Stories and Condolences

 

Please share a story, photo, memory or condolence for the family by completing the form below and clicking "Post Comment"

Thank you for your comment!

12 Comments

Leave a Comment

↑ Both fields are required ↓

Upload Photo(s)

Ernie & Jean

May 9, 2024 at 4:25 PM

Eleanor and David are one of our favourite couples.  Even though we didn’t meet often, it was quality over quantity. It was expected that an encounter with the Schellenberg’s would stretch our perspectives on life and love. Rest in peace, Eleanor, and good wishes and condolences to you, David, our admired friend and colleague.

Anonymous

May 9, 2024 at 4:24 PM

@ariole (Sharon Wehner)

Our meeting at Assiniboine Park meant so much to mom and dad and I. You are family, my friend. All the Wehners are.

ariole (Sharon Wehner)

May 9, 2024 at 3:56 PM

Thank you for this exquisite sharing, via photos, of the exquisiteness of Eleanor!  I am just receiving this this evening …


My heart is so full with love – for Dave, Shirley, Steven, Michael, and Chris … And Eleanor is filling my heart right now! 


Eleanor is like a surrogate mother to me – and a wonderful woman who has meant so much to me – and still does …


Thank you for including the beautiful photo with Dorcas and I, from our serendipitous, completely unexpected, and gorgeous visit with Eleanor, Dave, and Michael, at the café in Assiniboine Park in September 2022!  None of us could have known that Dorcas would make her transition mere months later … Best friends they were – and surely still are!


Love is all I feel – as Eleanor IS love to me!


Love and tenderness to the precious family – the Schellenbergs – friends to ours since before I was born …


My heart is with you …


PS Dave and Michael (and Eleanor!), you have been in my awareness frequently in recent months! I will call again, and hopefully find a perfect moment to hear your voices … I would love that : - ) ))) You all mean so much to me ...

Dave

May 9, 2024 at 3:35 PM

@Darlene MacDonald and Jim Richardson.

Thank you so much from your most welcome comments. My thoughts go back to how fast time passes. We enjoyed our connection with your family, and I hope Emma is doing well in her life as a social worker.

With my love to you both,

Darlene MacDonald and Jim Richardson.

May 9, 2024 at 3:28 PM

We were saddened to hear of Eleanor’s passing. We knew her as a compassionate Social Worker at NEWFACESS  as well as a loving wife and partner with Dave . We recall how patient she was with our young daughter, when she and Dave visited. Taking the time to view and remark on Emma’s extensive Barbie collection.  Any time we visited at their home or cottage she was always a gracious host and a pleasure to socialize with.  She will truly be missed

Anonymous

May 9, 2024 at 3:22 PM

Patti, Frank, Bryan & Kara

May 9, 2024 at 3:15 PM

My Auntie Eleanor used to tease me about how easily I cried. Well, she is laughing with me now as I sob while I go through photos that bring back such wonderful memories. Not many are so lucky as I to have a favorite Aunt, Uncle and cousins along with a magical place where we all laugh, play, and sing together every summer. I promised her that we would keep up this tradition. I will miss her wonderful smile, that mischevious twinkle in her eyes when she was curious about something, her dry sense of humour that caught you unexpected (but we should have known she would come up with the funniest line of the night!), and I always, always will picture her smiling at me when I cry in public!! Thanks for the memories and for doing it so well 'your way', as Afi loved to sing! You hold a deeply special place in our hearts forever. 


p.s. I hope you forgive me for laughing when I heard you had forgotten you didn't like dogs! (they obviously didn't suspect :)

Anonymous

May 9, 2024 at 3:13 PM

Nancy Allan

May 9, 2024 at 3:08 PM

I was so honoured to have Eleanor and Dave as long time supporters of the St Vital NDP.  They were such a lovely couple and hosted meetings in their home in Windsor Park,  Eleanor was an excellent host and always had tea and refreshments lined up on the dining room table with some cookies. She always loved the lively debates we had at the meetings and would definitely engage in the dialogue.  I am so happy I arranged a visit with them last year at some point to stop by with dessert and catch up on the latest in politics and the world. It was a visit I will treasure for many years to come.  Rest in peace Eleanor…..you were kind and generous and a very classy woman ❤️

Anonymous

May 9, 2024 at 3:07 PM

Rest peacefully Amma ❤️ May angels carry you safely home

Anonymous

May 9, 2024 at 3:06 PM

Jean Pierre and Tomi

May 9, 2024 at 3:03 PM

Our sincere condolences to the family and friends. Only good memories of Eleanor from a long time.

bottom of page