Eleanor Alice (Coyle) Manley, age 67, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 29, 2011 surrounded by family and friends at home after a valiant battle with multiple myeloma. She is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, Michael C. Manley. Eleanor is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Paula Coyle, her brother Michael Coyle, her father & mothers-in-law, Vernon and Mae Manley and Emma Manley, Uncle Bob Manley, sister-in-law, Patricia Thusius and brother-in-laws, Charles Christoph and James Ament.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Manley, four daughters; Mary Kenefick (Todd) of Richland Center, Marjorie Manley (Victoria Bein) Sun Prairie, Molly Hansberry (Steve) Sun Prairie, Marcy Cox (Ray) Sun Prairie, and one son, Michael Manley (Alexis) San Diego, CA and her seven grandchildren; Sean & Austin Kenefick, Morgan & Tom Hansberry, Seamus & Hannah Cox, Juliana Manley; her sisters, Rosemary Coyle Ament (James) of Harshaw, Camilla Coyle Farwell (Duane) of Cottage Grove; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Christoph (Charles) of Madison and LouAnn Hoffer ( Richard) of Deerfield, brother-in-law, Dexter Thusius ( Diane) of Madison and many nieces and nephews.
Eleanor’s life’s work was raising her five children and her seven grandchildren. Later she worked a variety of jobs, including one of her favorites as an educational assistant at Gingerbread House. Eleanor loved people and especially children. Many of the children she worked with called her “dear” because she could frequently be heard saying “What dear?” To Eleanor everyone was a dear. She often said how wonderful things were. Even upon receiving bad news and suffering with her myeloma, she reassured the UW doctors they were wonderful and would talk to the nurses about their lives and their children. When ill and half sleeping, she would pick up her head and say to a young nurse, “And what is your name”? And off she went finding out about their life. Eleanor always tried to see the best in people and the silver lining in the clouds. She made a friend of everyone she met. She had an amazing memory and could remember children grandchildren and life situations. She was a selfless and amazing woman.
Eleanor was a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, cousin, aunt, and friend who enjoyed her early life on the farm in Cottage Grove and later as a farm wife in Sun Prairie. She loved traveling, dancing, water aerobics and visiting with family and friends. She was famous for making baby blankets for friends and relatives. Many of these children still keep them with them, even though they are in college. Eleanor was a Wisconsin Farmers Union Youth Leader and a member of Homemakers of Wisconsin, Sun Prairie chapter, whose motto is Believe in the Sanctity of the Home–the cradle of character blessed by motherly devotion and fatherly protection. .
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church, 227 Columbus Street in Sun Prairie with Monsignor Duane Moellenberndt and Father Thomas Coyle presiding. Burial will be held at a later date. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 from 5 to 8 pm. at the Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home, 302 Columbus Street in Sun Prairie and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Wednesday. A scripture service will be held at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Special thanks to all the nurses & staff at UW Hospital and Dean Oncology and to Dr. Natalie Callander, who gave us hope, and then the gift of time to live out her final days with family and friends. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Sacred Hearts School Endowment Fund or the Carbone Cancer Center.

Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
Sun Prairie, 608-837-5400
www.newcomerfh.com