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Eleanor Merle Westberg Johnson

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Eleanor Merle Westberg (Tench) Johnson, of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, lost her battle with dementia on April 4, 2020, just two days before her 85th birthday, surrounded by the love of her family and friends. 

Eleanor was born at home in Irvington, New Jersey, on April 6, 1935, to Lillian K. (Hardy) and Merl O. Tench. She received her B.S. in nursing from Upsala College in New Jersey where she met and married Charles E. Westberg (d. 2012). She was mother to Kathleen Barge (Steve) of Sewickley, and Charles Westberg, Jr. (Kimberly) of Aldie, Virginia, grandmother (“Nannie,” her favorite role of all) to Aaren Barge (Sreemoyee), Cameron Barge, Genevieve Barge and Conner Westberg, sister to Jane Laustsen of Santa Barbara, California, (who survives her) and aunt to four nieces and two nephews. 

Eleanor was athletic as a young woman, garnering many track and field medals. She also enjoyed tennis and water skiing. Eleanor devoted her life to the service of others. Professionally, she worked in labor and delivery nursing before having her own children and later worked in school nursing and elder care nursing. Having spent her married life in Fairfield County, Connecticut, she moved to Sewickley in 1994 to help with her grandchildren and continued her service work for many years, volunteering at the Sewickley Valley Hospital Gift Shop, as well as serving as a volunteer receptionist at Sweetwater Center for the Arts and The Presbyterian Church, Sewickley, where she was a member. 

She loved to travel internationally (which she did extensively with her sister), spend summers on Tyler Lake with her extended family and friends, go to garage sales, cook, and was famous for her “drive-by fruitings.” Her later years were plagued by a series of unfortunate surgeries that ultimately left her with some paralysis, but she enjoyed many years of independent living at Masonic Village Sewickley and spent her final years in the Masonic Village Sewickley nursing home. The family wishes to express its gratitude to the caregivers at Masonic Village Sewickley nursing home and to her personal companion, Tanja, for their care and support during the final years of Eleanor’s life. In light of current world events, no visitation or memorial service is currently planned. 

Eleanor loved spending time at Chautauqua with her grandchildren. If desired, the family suggests memorial donations be sent to Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua NY ,14722 in memory of Eleanor W. Johnson.

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