BANGOR – Eleanor H. McInnis, 91, wife of the late F. Carr (Mike) McInnis, died after a brief illness on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003. She was born Aug. 5, 1912, in Bangor, the daughter of Thomas F. and Ellen (Sullivan) Higgins. She was raised in the proud, hard-working traditions of her beloved Sidney and Cedar Street neighborhoods – part of the “old” St. Mary’s Parish. The Higgins’ home on Sidney Street overlooked what is now the parking lot of Miller’s Restaurant, known then as “Higgins Hill,” a sliding and recreation area for the neighborhood children. Eleanor was predeceased by all of her siblings, four sisters, Mary Ergenbright of California, Sylvia Ehler of Connecticut, Dorothy McNamara of Bangor and Madeline who died as a child; three brothers, Francis J. of Bangor, Thomas J. of California and Joseph E. Higgins of New Jersey. Following graduation from John Bapst High School, Class of 1930, Eleanor took her exceptional spelling, shorthand and typing skills to the local workforce, first with Travelers Insurance Co., and then gravitating to the medical secretarial field. Some of her greatest career memories stem from the experiences and friends made while working at Dow Field Hospital. Following a number of years as a “stay at home mom,” Eleanor returned to work for a few of Bangor’s well-known physicians, as well as a short stint with the Municipal Court in Bangor. Eleanor loved the friendly, caring, family neighborhood of Maple Street, where she raised her children and lived as a communicant of St. John’s Catholic Church for the past 56 years. She took genuine interest and pleasure learning of the latest “news” of the children of neighbors and friends. She often served as kind of a “typing pool” for some of the Maple Street kids who needed their term papers impeccably typed, often at the eleventh hour. She is survived by her son, Michael and his wife, Norma, of Hampden; her daughter, Mary Ann and her husband, Dr. Joseph Libby, of Hermon; four grandchildren, Amy McInnis of Myanmar (Burma), Michael C. McInnis of Newton, Mass., Matthew McInnis of San Diego, Calif.; and Lindsay Libby of Hermon. “Lully” is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. These include the Ergenbright family members on the west coast, Jan, Ric and Dinah, whose daughter, Lori, traveled to Maine to connect with Eleanor and her east coast roots; the Higgins children, Jerry and Gayle, Nancy and Karen, Joe, Vincent and Kevin, all living throughout the country, Peter Ehler of Connecticut, and Sheila Bourbon, formerly of Allentown, Pa., now living in Florida. Locally, that loving group includes James L. McNamara Jr. of Brewer, Patricia Jarrell of Bangor, Sister Judith McNamara of the Sisters of Mercy, Portland, and James Coughlin of Northport. The family gratefully acknowledges Eleanor’s caregivers at Ross Manor, New Hope Hospice, and Mrs. Sharon Babcock, CNA. Relatives and friends may call 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church with Rev. Richard McLaughlin, pastor, officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Eleanor’s memory may be made to Sisters of Mercy Retirement Fund, 605 Stevens Avenue, Portland, ME 04103.
ELEANOR H. MCINNIS
