Eleanor (Neal) Hawley

Eleanor T. Neal-Hawley passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, October 16th, 2016 at the age of 95. Mrs. Hawley was born on April 19th, 1921 in Connecticut. She was the fourth oldest of seven children and married to her sweetheart William affectionately known as “Poo” for the past  sixty nine years. Mrs. Hawley graduated from UMASS Amherst with “summa-cum-laude” high honors. Eleanor served as the first women for the city of Worcester for over 22 years as the Executive Director for the Human Rights commission following her retirement in 1991. Mrs. Hawley sat on many boards and established tasks forces and ordinances for civil rights and human rights legislation at the federal and state levels to bring awareness around discrimination, fear, misinformation, and lack of understanding about differences that often lead to prejudice and discrimination through the office of human rights in the New England area. Mrs. Hawley is survived by her husband, William L. Hawley; and her daughter Deborah Spence of Worcester MA, She is further survived by two granddaughters , Monique M. Spence of Shrewsbury, MA and Nicole A. Smith of Rhode Island, six  great grandchildren; Many cousins, other relatives and  friends. She is predeceased by her son William L. Hawley, III, and her granddaughter Mercedes C. Spence. Funeral services for Eleanor will be held Monday October 24th at 12 noon in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation  St. Burial next to her son will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton.  A period of  calling hours will be Monday, from 10AM to 12 noon