Eleanor Hutchinson (Rathje) Service Information

Eleanor Rathje Hutchinson, of Plymouth Meeting, PA died on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at her home. She was 92.

She was the beloved wife of 56 years to the late James Hutchinson who passed in 2015 and mother of the late Jim Hutchinson who passed in 2013.

She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Hutchinson and her partner Silvio Scaglione of Ambler, PA, her daughter-in-law Merrill Hutchinson, widow of Jim Hutchinson, of Marietta, GA. She is also survived by her loving grandson, Kyle Giordano and his partner Georgia Marentis of Brooklyn, NY, Nicholas Allen of Ambler, PA, Jimmy Hutchinson and his wife Jenna of Brookhaven, GA, and Kelly Hutchinson of Washington, DC. She is also predeceased by her sister Hildegard Richards.

Born in Manhattan, NY, she was the daughter of the late Ludwig Rathje and Clare Lepskie Rathje.

After the passing of her mother at age 9, she was enrolled at The Graham School, a boarding school in Hastings on Hudson where she lived, and her father visited until age 13. Her father was then able to buy a house in Belleville, NJ where he raised Eleanor, and her older sister Hildegard.

In 1958, Eleanor met the love of her life at the pool hall in town, and nine months later they were wed.

They raised their two children, Jimmy and Lynn, were active parishioners at Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, in Nutley, NJ. and the Knights of Columbus in North Arlington NJ.

Eleanor was a dedicated wife and mother, caring for the family with great love and her strong will. She always spoke her mind, which was a trait passed on to her children!

Later she became a dedicated grandmother playing an integral role in the lives of Kyle, Nicholas, Jimmy and Kelly.

Upon Jim’s retirement in 2005, they relocated to Charlotte, NC where for nine years they enjoyed meeting new friends, Jim’s daily rounds of golf, and living a wonderful life ‘down south’.

In 2014, they moved to suburban Philadelphia to be closer for Lynn after the passing of their son Jim.

Eleanor was one of the strongest, most loving, and most supportive mother, grandmother, and friend anyone could ever hope to have. Anyone she met felt like they were lifelong friends. She had a twinkle in her eye, a wonderful smile, and a spirit in her heart that everyone loved.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Sunday, November 3, 2024, from 4:00 – 7:00pm and on Monday, November 4, 2024, from 10:00am until her Funeral Service at 11:00am in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 241 East Butler Ave. New Britain, PA 18901.  Her interment will be held at 1:00pm in Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Rd., Wrightstown, NJ 08562. Please arrive at the cemetery by 12:45pm at the Administrative Office.

There will be a repast after the cemetery service at The Chesterfield Inn 633 Chesterfield-Arneytown Rd. Chesterfield, NJ 08515 (609) 298-1917. All are welcome to enjoy some food and drinks.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, in honor of her son, Jim Hutchinson, c/o PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486. https://www.mdanderson.org/

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