Eleanor M. (Collins) Vanderberg

August 7, 1921 - April 20, 2016

We are deeply saddened to announce that Eleanor Mary Vanderberg, aged 94, died peacefully on April 20, 2016 at St. Cabrini Nursing Home after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Born on August 7, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Patrick Collins of Galway, Ireland and Delia Owens of County Roscommon, Ireland. Eleanor was predeceased by her husband Joseph Thomas Vanderberg, her sister Elizabeth and brother Thomas Collins.She loved helping others and never asked for anything in return. She was a devoted mother of 5, Ann, Margaret (Robert Dubrowski), Joseph (Nancy LaPorte) Jerry (Silvana Ferrante) and Thomas (Adele Estrada); loving grandmother of 6, Katie, Megan, Matthew, Joe, Caitlin, and Kimberly; adoring great-grandmother of 2, Sophie and Peter. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially at holiday gatherings. She inspired her children to lead truthful, honest and generous lives. She was a devout Catholic her whole life, and she inspired those around her to live better. We are so grateful for the time we had with her and she will live on forev If you ever had the opportunity to see the Radio City Christmas Show, you would have watched the Nativity scene which was a live short story of the life of Jesus.  It was named One Solitary Life and I’ll just share the beginning with you.He was born in an obscure village the child of a peasant woman.  He never owned a home.  He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place He was born…….The first time I saw the Nativity Scene and heard some of these words I thought of my mom.  She was born in Brooklyn, not so obscure but at that time very much like a village.  She was the first child of struggling Irish immigrants.  She never owned a home.  She never traveled more than 250 miles from the place she was born.  She was a solitary person – who lived a simple religious life.  We honor her life today by acknowledging how beautiful her simple religious life was.  She went to mass daily, prayed the rosary, and truly cared about her family.  She was sincere, considerate, humble, a gentle soul and a survivor.  She battled many health issued the past 12 years, surprising her family and staff at St Cabrini Nursing Home with her resilience.  She never gave up through all her health issues and we started calling her the Energizer Bunny.  Some people thought that maybe she was part cat and had 9 lives. She truly was an amazing person. There’s a hymn that I heard sung at St. Cabrini Nursing Home and it signifies the person she is. Gentle woman,  quiet light, morning star so strong and bright. Gentle mother, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom, teach us love. She will always be in our hearts. er in our hearts.