Obituary for Eleanor Elizabeth "Ellie, El" McKenzie (Vavro)
Eleanor E. “Ellie, El” McKenzie (Vavro)
Age 87, of Upper St. Clair, originally of Hazelwood, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
Eleanor was the beloved and devoted mother of Mark McKenzie, Christine (Mark Fulton) McKenzie, Regis (Colleen) McKenzie, John McKenzie, and Michael (Kristen) McKenzie; adoring grandma of Elyse, Regis IV, Emily, Jack, Matthew, Mark, John Michael, Katherine, Connor, Colin and the late Zachary; dear sister of Joseph (the late Barbara) Vavro; and sister-in-law of Agnes Vavro and Carol Vavro. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and many other cherished relatives and friends. Eleanor was preceded in death by her loving parents John and Genevieve (Bacik) Vavro, and siblings John (Rosey) Vavro, Robert Vavro, Jean King, and Edward Vavro.
Eleanor remained active until the time around her passing. Just the week before she passed she had engaged in many of her favorite activities. She attended daily Mass, a birthday lunch with her girlfriends, regular texting and calls with her five adult children, a playoff basketball game at Upper St. Clair High School with some of her grandsons, and the obligatory stop to Starbucks for peppermint hot chocolate.
Eleanor was born and raised in Hazelwood. She was one of six children, was close to all of her siblings, their spouses, and nieces and nephews. Most recently she remained close to her surviving brother Joe who regularly baked her one of his delicious pies. She attended parochial schools where she established lifelong friendships with two of her closest girlfriends of seventy years.
Eleanor married in her early twenties, lived briefly in Castle Shannon and settled in Upper St. Clair in 1969. She raised four sons and one daughter never leaving a dull moment at the McKenzie household. She was immersed in her community even being described as the matriarch of the neighborhood.
Her neighbors remained her lifelong friends and were an integral part of her life and the lives of her children. Eleanor was a devoted mother, an involved grandmother, a devout Catholic, and a loyal friend. To say that she will be missed is an understatement.
Arrangements by BEINHAUERS, 724-941-3211. Friends and family will be received on Wednesday from 1-8 p.m. at 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. in Resurrection Parish, St. John Capistran Church, 1610 McMillan Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. Please meet directly at church. Immediately following, Eleanor will be taken to her final place of rest at Calvary Cemetery in Hazelwood.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Little Sisters of the Poor (https://www.littlesistersofthepoorpittsburgh.org/new-donation-page/), or Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh (https://www.emmauspgh.org/).
Please add and view tributes at www.beinhauer.com.
Age 87, of Upper St. Clair, originally of Hazelwood, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
Eleanor was the beloved and devoted mother of Mark McKenzie, Christine (Mark Fulton) McKenzie, Regis (Colleen) McKenzie, John McKenzie, and Michael (Kristen) McKenzie; adoring grandma of Elyse, Regis IV, Emily, Jack, Matthew, Mark, John Michael, Katherine, Connor, Colin and the late Zachary; dear sister of Joseph (the late Barbara) Vavro; and sister-in-law of Agnes Vavro and Carol Vavro. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and many other cherished relatives and friends. Eleanor was preceded in death by her loving parents John and Genevieve (Bacik) Vavro, and siblings John (Rosey) Vavro, Robert Vavro, Jean King, and Edward Vavro.
Eleanor remained active until the time around her passing. Just the week before she passed she had engaged in many of her favorite activities. She attended daily Mass, a birthday lunch with her girlfriends, regular texting and calls with her five adult children, a playoff basketball game at Upper St. Clair High School with some of her grandsons, and the obligatory stop to Starbucks for peppermint hot chocolate.
Eleanor was born and raised in Hazelwood. She was one of six children, was close to all of her siblings, their spouses, and nieces and nephews. Most recently she remained close to her surviving brother Joe who regularly baked her one of his delicious pies. She attended parochial schools where she established lifelong friendships with two of her closest girlfriends of seventy years.
Eleanor married in her early twenties, lived briefly in Castle Shannon and settled in Upper St. Clair in 1969. She raised four sons and one daughter never leaving a dull moment at the McKenzie household. She was immersed in her community even being described as the matriarch of the neighborhood.
Her neighbors remained her lifelong friends and were an integral part of her life and the lives of her children. Eleanor was a devoted mother, an involved grandmother, a devout Catholic, and a loyal friend. To say that she will be missed is an understatement.
Arrangements by BEINHAUERS, 724-941-3211. Friends and family will be received on Wednesday from 1-8 p.m. at 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. in Resurrection Parish, St. John Capistran Church, 1610 McMillan Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. Please meet directly at church. Immediately following, Eleanor will be taken to her final place of rest at Calvary Cemetery in Hazelwood.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Little Sisters of the Poor (https://www.littlesistersofthepoorpittsburgh.org/new-donation-page/), or Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh (https://www.emmauspgh.org/).
Please add and view tributes at www.beinhauer.com.