Eleanor Jean Forte

Eleanor Jean Forte of Calverton, formerly of Cutchogue and West Babylon, died Wednesday, April 7, 2021. She was 83 years old.

She was born March 11, 1938, to Karl Strubel and Selma Marie Knott. They lived in Long Island City, Astoria, New York City and later moved to a small rural town in Lindenhurst, formerly Breslau.

Eleanor told her family she loved living in the city because she had friends up and down the street, rode her bike, played patsy and marbles. As a young adult, she was an administrative assistant and a buyer at the import office in New York.

Eleanor met William Forte and they married on Oct. 3, 1959. They moved into an apartment over a garage in Lindenhurst. Shortly thereafter, they moved into a home they built in West Babylon, where they raised three children, Krista, David and Stephen.

She enjoyed taking great care of her children, worked hard and always put others first. She enjoyed sewing and made most of her children’s clothing as well as her own. She knitted and provided blankets to others in need. She had many talents, including creating beautiful watercolor paintings on canvas that were shown at her wake. She also created Christmas decorations, on which she painted colorful birds, and shared them amongst her friends.

Everyone who lived near Eleanor would receive homemade Christmas cookies. She loved to share her recipes, as she was an incredible cook. She had many talents and mastered them all!

Eleanor enjoyed many friends who lived around the world, some of whom the family spoke to recently and who shared their love and admiration for her. Their stories included lifelong friendships lasting over 70 years. Not too many people can top that!

The family heard stories of how she helped a woman at Western Suffolk BOCES get a job. This woman said Eleanor was a smart and professional woman who helped everyone. She worked hard and — everyone agrees — worked too hard. Her boss stated at his retirement, “I enjoyed working for Eleanor!”

If you had time, Eleanor would enjoy telling you stories about history, her family tree, heritage and past wars. Often the stories would go on forever and you were lost in time wondering how the story even started. She would often retell the story the same exact way! 

Eleanor and William retired in a home they built in Cutchogue and, later in years when their health was changing, they relocated to a retirement community in Calverton. Eleanor enjoyed socializing and participated in book clubs, knitting clubs and was called “The Killer” when she played in bocce ball tournaments. She was an active member at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and was always eager to help others, whether she was collecting items for baskets or making pies to sell at the church fair.

The family heard from many people that Eleanor talked endlessly about her seven wonderful grandchildren. She was looking forward to her grandson’s wedding this summer and many graduations from high school and college.

William passed away six years ago and the family envisions seeing them dancing together and enjoying themselves, perhaps sharing a whiskey sour or a shot of Jack Daniels!

Eleanor inspired her family to work hard, not waste a moment and do something for others.

The family received friends April 11 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. Funeral services were held April 12 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport, with Pastor Garrett Johnson officiating. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 242, Greenport, NY 11944. 

This is a paid notice.