Elinor Mitchell O'Malley, 93, passed away of a sudden heart attack on May 12, 2015. She died in The Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Florida.

She was born in Roseville, Illinois to Charles and Cora Snyder Mitchell on January 16, 1922. She had one sister, Marjorie Mitchell Boote.

She was married at an early age to Virgil Washburn, and they had 3 daughters, Karen, Conni and Joy. However, when Virgil returned to the states, after being on an ammunition ship at Okinawa, he was certainly not the same person who left to fight in WWII in 1944. Today it is believed that he had PTSD. They were divorced and subsequently Elinor was graduated from the Kellburg Institute of Swedish Massage in Chicago in 1946.

She moved the entire family, including her mother to Hot Springs, AK in 1947 to be employed by the Fordyce Bath House.

In 1952 she moved the family to Miami, FL as the opportunities for a Swedish Masseuse were numerous. She immediately secured a position at the Eden Roc Hotel where she managed at the health club for over 25 years. In addition, she managed The Solarium at the Fontainebleau Hotel simultaneously.

Due to the escalating crime rate in Miami, she moved to Vero Beach in 1983 where she resided until her death. She entered "The Place" an assisted living facility for her last seven years. She was amazingly healthy and walked around the building at least five times a day and constantly strove to shave her time. Near the end, she could make it in eleven minutes, quite a feat.

At age 69, Elinor entered Divinity School and in 1995 she was officially ordained a Science of Mind Minister. It was chartered October 17, 1995. Science of Mind is a correlation of the findings of science, the opinions of philosophy and the revelation of religion as applied to the needs of all mankind. The headquarters are located in Los Angeles, CA.

Classified as legally blind, Elinor was given a service dog named Joanie, who lived to be 13 years old. Joanie saved her life on several occasions and accompanied her everywhere. When Joanie died, Elinor was considered too old to get another dog.

Elinor and Joanie volunteered at Hospice House of Vero Beach for many years. Elinor gave massages to dying patients and/or their family members. Elinor was dedicated to Hospice as they had assisted in the final days of her beloved daughter, Joy's life.

According to all family and friends, Elinor's greatest gift was to insist on a college education for her girls. She accomplished this as a single mother, all have graduated with Bachelor's degrees and one has a Master's degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill in addition, she has all but 19 college hours to complete a Ph.D. in psychology. She also has a degree in Interior Design.

A family graveside ceremony is planned for June 15, 2015 in Good Hope, Illinios and Elinor's ashes will be buried next her parents as were her wishes.

Elinor was preceded in death by her parent's Charles and Cora Snyder Mitchell, her much loved daughter, Joy, her sister Marjorie Mitchell Boote and husbands, Virgil Washburn and Patrick O'Malley. She is survived by her two daughters Karen Miller of Los Angeles, CA and Conni Hummel of Barrington, IL. Her son-in-law Jim Hummel, five grandchildren: Kathryn Dickey of Monticello, FL, Laurel Starks of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Scott Hummel of Cincinnati, OH, Mitchell Askew of Roswell, GA and Phillip Askew of North Miami, FL, five great grandchildren, Skylar Dickey, Tyler and Ryan Hummel and Andrew and Ardie Starks

In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice House of Vero Beach, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or Journey Care of Barrington, IL, 405 N Lake Zurich Rd, Barrington, IL 60010. Please mention Conni Hummel so they will know from whom the contribution is coming.

Elinor would be greatly please for these contributions and I can see her chuckling as she looks down upon us. She had a wonderful sense of humor.

Online condoolences may be expressed at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com