Eleanor J. Klarides

Eleanor "Ellie" Josephine Tolbert Klarides, age 88, of West Palm Beach, FL, formerly of Oxford, the beloved wife of the late James Kostas Klarides, entered into eternal rest peacefully on Sunday, December 5, 2021 at her home. She was born in Danbury on March 12, 1933, loving daughter of the late Michael and Lucy DeMaio Tolbert. Ellie had many passions in life. She was a nurturer, which led to her career in nursing. Ellie was always there to lend a helping hand for anyone in need. She was a late-blooming athlete and her greatest passion was to play golf, enjoying her time at Brownson Country Club in Shelton, Racebrook Country Club in Orange and Ibis Country Club in West Palm Beach. Ellie cultivated her closest friendships from meetings on the golf course. Her love of sports lead her to become a rabid fan of the UCONN Huskies Women's Basketball Team; she never missed a game that she could watch on TV and also attended four Final Four's. Ellie was a voracious reader and when she was unable to play golf, she immersed herself in her books, which were many; historic period pieces were her favorite. Her greatest role in life was being a mother and a grandmother. She was a present mother who did so many things with her three children, was always there for school functions and sporting activities. Ellie made everything special. When her five grandchildren were born, she continued to be that loving, nurturing figure to all of them. There was no prouder grandmother on the earth. Even though she was Italian and Irish, she chose the name "Yiayia" which means grandmother in Greek. Ellie was a wonderful human being who left an indelible mark on her family, her colleagues and her many friends. Ellie's family includes her loving daughter Karin Klarides Marinaro, her five cherished grandchildren Robert James Marinaro, James Michael Marinaro, Constantine James "CJ' Klarides, Nicholas Vincent Klarides and Lisa Annmarie Klarides, her dear sister-in-law Theodora "Babe" Klarides, her four devoted nieces Dori Klarides, Constance Klarides Cheever, former State Representative Themis Klarides and State Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria and her four treasured Godchildren Constance Klarides Cheever, Kathy McGrath Camileri, Kara Mitchell and Danielle Halpin. She was predeceased by her daughter Lisa Ann Klarides, her son Constantine James "Gus" Klarides, sister and brother-in-law Mary and Theodore Klarides and brother-in-law Peter Klarides. A Mass of Christian Burial in Celebration of Ellie's Life will be held on Friday, December 10, 2021 at 10:30 am at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 135 Mountain Road in Seymour. Interment in the family plot at Pine Grove Cemetery in Ansonia will follow. Visitation will be held on Friday morning from 9:00 am until 10:00 am at the Miller-Ward Funeral Home, 260 Bank Street (RT. 67, across from Klarides Village) in Seymour. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to My Sister's Place, https://supportumbrella.org or Trustbridge Hospice, FL., www.trustbridge.com Previous Events Visitation DEC 10. 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (ET) Miller-Ward Funeral Home 260 Bank Street Seymour, CT 06483 Mass of Christian Burial DEC 10. 10:30 AM (ET) Church of the Good Shepherd 135 Mountain Road Seymour, CT 06483