Eleanor T. Belanger

Immaculate Conception Parishioner

Eleanor T. (Owens) Belanger, age 96, a longtime resident of Lowell, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2024, with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of the late Andre J. Belanger, with whom she shared 50 years of marriage prior to his passing in 2001. 

She was born in Lowell on August 6, 1927, daughter of the late Daniel and Sarah (Finucane) Owens. She received her education at St Michael’s School and was a graduate of Keith Hall, class of 1944, where she was class officer and captain of the basketball team. In 1948 she was one of the first women to receive a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.

Prior to her retirement, Eleanor was employed for many years as a registered pharmacist at the former St. John’s and Saints Memorial Hospital in Lowell. Earlier in her career while living in Wolfeboro, NH, she worked in that same capacity at Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro, where she established the hospital’s first pharmacy. 

She was a longtime communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell, where she served as lector and eucharistic minister. Among the many civic and church organizations to which she belonged, Eleanor was an active member of the League of Catholic Women and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. 

Eleanor often shared her time, talent and treasure with several charities, including St Francis Retreat Center, the House of Hope, and Catholic Charities, which named her Honoree of the Year in 2004. She also served as a board member for the Lowell Council on Aging for many years.

She was a lifelong student and participated in the Learning in Retirement Association sponsored by UMass Lowell. 

Most important to Eleanor was spending time with her children, grandchildren, and extended family and friends.

Eleanor is survived by her four children, Andrea Stanislaw and her husband Joseph of Gilford, NH, Philip Belanger and his wife Leona of North Chelmsford, Brother Brian C. Belanger, OFM of Siena College in Loudonville, NY and Joanne Belanger of Westford; five grandchildren, Bernard Belanger, Joseph Belanger, Monica Price and her husband Kyle, Garrett Martel and Ian Martel and his husband Nathan Powell; and many nieces and nephews, among whom is Richard Owens of Lowell.

She was also the sister of the late Attorney Edward Owens and Brother J. Conal Owens, CFX.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Eleanor’s visitation at the Immaculate Conception Church, 144 E. Merrimack St. in Lowell on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 10:00am until 11:00am followed by her Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11:00am at the church. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eleanor’s memory to Catholic Charities of Boston, 275 West Broadway, Boston, MA 02127.