Eleanor L. Baraniak

Born in Manchester on February 16, 1931, she was the daughter of Stephen H. and Dorothy M. (Murphy) Cunningham. She was a lifelong resident of Manchester and a summer resident of Rye.

Eleanor grew up in Goffs Falls and was a graduate of St. Joseph High School for Girls, Class of 1948. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Mt. St. Mary College in Hooksett. She then returned to St. Joseph High School for Girls to teach English.

Eleanor married John R. Baraniak on June 26, 1954. The couple recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. When their four children were attending school, she resumed her career in education, teaching for many years at Manchester Central High School. There she served as a class advisor and guided many onto college careers. She will be remembered for her love of literature, her dedication to her students, her polished writing, her kindness and her grace.

Quietly devoted to her faith, Eleanor was a member and communicant of St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

In addition to her husband, family members include four children, Kristin A. O'Brien and her husband, George, of Manchester, Karen A. DiMartino and her husband, Richard, and Kyle A. Nanna and her husband, Wayne, all of Westwood, MA and John R. Baraniak Jr. of Boston, MA; nine grandchildren, with whom she generously shared time, affection and wisdom, Tyler O'Brien and his wife, Kara, of Boston, MA, Christopher R. O'Brien of Hanover, Jessica (DiMartino) Stanley and her husband, Zachary, of Boston, MA, Andrew DiMartino of Watertown, MA, Erin E. Nanna of Boston, MA, Marine Lance Corporal Dylan M. Nanna, of Camp Pendleton, CA, Patrick R. and Casey S. Nanna of Westwood, MA and Gabriel R. Puglisi of Boston, MA; two sisters in law, Helen P. Baraniak and Frances B. Baraniak, both of Manchester; several cousins and close neighbors and friends.

Eleanor was predeceased by a brother, David E. Cunningham.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, October 17, 2014 at St. Joseph Cathedral Chapel, Lowell Street, Manchester. Committal prayers followed at Mt. Calvary Mausoleum, 474 Goffstown Rd., Manchester.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/donation , and at 1-800-805-5856; or to New Hampshire Catholic Charities, 215 Myrtle St., Manchester, NH 03104-4354, and at 1-800-562-5249.