Eleanor Pons

Eleanor C. Pons, 93 of Duluth died peacefully on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at Essentia St. Mary's after a short illness. Eleanor was born November 16, 1919 in Duluth to John S. and Antonette (Helewski) Tarnowski. She graduated from Cathedral High School and from St. Scholastica School of Nursing. Eleanor worked at St. Mary's Hospital prior to joining the US Army Nursing Corps, serving as a 1st Lieutenant in Denver and Germany. After the war, Eleanor returned to work at St. Mary's. She returned to Germany for three years, working for the government and hospitals, after which she returned to St. Mary's where she retired in 1980.
Eleanor was a member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church and its Rosary Society. She enjoyed crafting, gardening, cooking, canning and doing the genealogy of the Tarnowski and Helewski Family's.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Antonette; siblings, John E. (Marge) Tarnowski and Frances Eaton.

Eleanor is survived by her daughter, Jeanne Pons, "her other daughter" Bonnie Kemppainen; nieces, Mary Joan Tarnowski and Kathy Tarnowski; nephew, John C "Jay" Tarnowski and several other nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be Sunday from 4-6pm with wake prayers at 6 p.m., in the Dougherty Funeral Home. Visitation will continue Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 325 E 3rd St. Duluth.

Burial will be at the Polish Catholic Cemetery, with military honors accorded by the Duluth Honor Guard. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to the St. Mary Star of the Sea Rosary Society c/o the church. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2ns St. Duluth, (218) 727-3555.