Eleanor Mae (Fortunato) Becker

Eleanor Mae Becker, 88, passed away Wednesday morning, April 27, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center.

Eleanor was born May 21, 1927 in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Louis and Irma (Ragaini) Fortunato, Sr.

Eleanor was a graduate of Youngstown College with a B.A. degree in elementary education. She taught at the Wayne Township School near Lisbon, John White and Mary Haddow Schools, both in Youngstown and then served as a substitute teacher at various schools. Her evaluations as a first grade and special education teacher were outstanding.

Eleanor's passion was planning, cooking, and enjoying parties for friends and family. They were carefully organized, colorful, and topical and everyone looked forward to them.

Eleanor was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Youngstown.

In 1955, she married Rand Becker in the William Holmes McGuffey Memorial Methodist Church, where as a member she served as treasurer for almost 17 years.

She doted on her niece, Lee Ann Heltzel, and nephews, David and Louis III Fortunato, and their children, Richard, Nicholas, and Danielle Heltzel, Christopher and Lynn Fortunato, and grand nephew, Landon Fortunato.

Our world is much smaller with the loss of her loving and compassionate soul. Through sixty years of marriage, her unwavering support of her husband's career was appreciated beyond measure.

Her husband, Rand Becker, preceded her in death on April 16, 2016. She is survived by her sister, Aurora Fortunato of Mineral Ridge; nephews, Louis (Cheryl) Fortunato of North Jackson and David Fortunato of Brookfield; niece, Lee Ann Fortunato-Heltzel of Columbiana; Cynthia McDuff of California; David (Jan) Arnold of California; Robert (Marian) Becker of Hawaii; numerous great-nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Eleanor was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Louis and Jeannette Fortunato, Jr.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at the Davis-Becker Funeral Home, 8536 Market St., Boardman. A funeral service will follow on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Interment will be at Tod Homestead Cemetery, Youngstown.

Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.