Eleanor L. Bell, 97, of Utica, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in the evening at The Caring Place in Franklin.

Born on February 10, 1922 in Canal Township, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Ruth (Mead) Bean.

She was a graduate of Cochranton High School. After graduation, she worked at the Howard Moore plant in Cochranton as a Typesetter until 1942.

On October 30, 1941, she married the love of her life, Darwin Bell; he preceded her in death on May 20, 1990.

Eleanor always had a passion for the farm and home. She had a local “egg delivery route” in Rocky Grove and Cochranton, where she would use the money she raised selling eggs to buy groceries. Eleanor was also a hardworking member of her local 4-H clubs, where she served as a leader for over 26 years. All of her children and grandchildren followed in her footsteps by also being a part of 4-H. She was also part of the Canal Homemakers. She enjoyed cooking, quilting, gardening, and most of all, taking care of her family.

Eleanor was strong in her faith and spent most of her life giving back to others in any way she could. She was a member of the Lupher Chapel United Methodist Church. She was a Sunday School teacher for over 50 years, helped with her junior church choir, was a member of the United Methodist Women, and took many mission trips, like the one to a Southeast Indian school. Eleanor also loved to read to her grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Carole Rapp & her husband, Wayne, of Utica; and her three sons, Larry Bell & his wife, Kay, and Perry Bell, both of Cochranton, and Chris Bell & his wife, Patti, of Utica.

She is further survived by her eight grandchildren, Tammie Ferguson & her husband, Dr. Scott, of Lakeland, FL, Timothy Rapp & his wife, Brenda, of Columbia, MD, Nicole Chmura & her husband, Ryan, of Hermitage, Traci Neely & her husband, Brian, of Utica, Chelsae Mentzer & her husband, Ryan, of Harrisburg, Cherish Fertif & her husband, Frankie, of Utica, Joshua Bell of San Francisco, CA, and Michaela Bell of Utica; her eleven great-grandchildren, Luke, Esther & Bethany Ferguson, Josiah, Hannah, and Daniel Rapp, Summer & Skyler Fertig, Landon Neely, Nincolas Chmura, and Sage Mentzer; and her sister Helen Fejes of Paducah, KY.

In addition to her parents and husband, Eleanor was preceded in death by her two sisters, Irene Naramore and Marie Hart.

Family and friends will be received on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, PA 16323, from 2 pm — 4 pm and 6 pm — 8 pm.

Funeral services for Eleanor will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at the Lupher Chapel United Methodist Church, 2275 Old Route 322, Franklin, PA 16323, starting at 11 am, with Reverend Aimee W. Twigg, retired United Methodist pastor, officiating.

Interment will be held at Cochranton Cemetery.

The family would like to personally thank the staff at The Caring Place for the wonderful care they took of Eleanor during her time there.

Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to the Lupher Chapel United Methodist Church, 2275 Old Route 322, Franklin, PA 16323; to the Utica Volunteer Fire Department, 3860 Academy Street, Utica, PA 16362; and/or to the Venango County Fair, #A, 867 Mercer Road, Franklin, PA 16323.

To send flowers, cards, online condolences, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.