Eleanor W Carnie
July 6, 2021
Our mother and longtime Village Resident Eleanor Carnie died peacefully at Azalea Trace on Tuesday July 6th in the presence of her loving daughter, Lucy Tims. She was 99 years old, born Feb 27, 1922 in Scarsdale, NY. She attended Barnard College and graduated with a degree in Sociology in 1942. She was married to Emmett S. Watson 1943-1977.
Many staff and residents have heard tales of her busy life as the mother of 5 children. She and her family lived in Ridgefield until 1970, when they moved to Jupiter, Florida with their two youngest children. After her mother died, Eleanor cared for her father, first moving him to Ridgefield and later to Florida.
In 1979 she married Norman Carnie and they built a house in Black Mountain, North Carolina. A prisoner of war during World War II, Norm later suffered from dementia. Eleanor cared for him until his death in 2003.
In 2003 she moved to Magnolia Grand. For several years Ms. Carnie, who liked to be called Ellie, could be seen walking around the lake with her King Charles Spaniel, Scarlett. At that time, she volunteered in the Village Library and sometimes shared favorite songs and her upbeat attitude with the residents of Azalea Trace. She was a skilled and avid Scrabble player, as many residents can attest. Although her memory continued to decline over the ensuing years, she often tried to bring a smile to staff and residents alike. Her own mother had been debilitated by early onset Parkinson’s Disease and yet instilled in a young Eleanor the firm belief that “You have a choice every day. You may not be able to control your circumstances, but you can always choose your attitude.” We all try to follow this sage advice.
Three years ago, with increasing confusion and memory loss, our mother moved to Azalea Trace. Staff and residents often heard her continue to recite the names of her five children. During her final years, she focused on gratitude and often enjoyed sitting in the courtyard, listening to the birds.
She is survived by her five children Emmett S Watson of New York City and Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire; James W. Watson of Mendham, New Jersey; Laura Brooks of Homer, Alaska and Derry, New Hampshire; Lucy Tims of Gainesville, Florida; and Benjamin Watson of Bloomington, Minnesota.
Most of her peers have passed and her wish was for her children and grandchildren to get together after her death. We are planning a memorial in New England where she grew up and where many of her 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren live.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Parkinsons Disease Association, www.apdaparkinson.org.
Crevasse's Simple Cremation is honored to serve the Carnie Family
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One of the best gifts my mother gave to me was the willingness to express childlike delight in everyday things. So many adults have lost the ability to connect to the simple joy of being present in the moment. Her memory was gone these last few years, but she seemed to find a sort of peace in looking at the trees or even just shadows on the walls. Beginners mind…..
For the rest of us, still caught up in the hustle of everyday life, may we take a moment to breathe in and breathe out, present only in this one very moment of this one very special life that we are living, right here, right now.