Obituary of Eleanor D. Pugliese

Eleanor Pugliese Obituary Eleanor Pugliese of Bulls Head Staten island, who cherished her family and will be remembered for her warm and caring nature, passed away March 17, 2023. The former Eleanor Benkovich (Ellie) was born in Mariners Harbor in 1926 and graduated from McKee High School. She worked for SS Kresge’s in Port Richmond as a full-time bookkeeper where she met her future husband, Leonard. She also worked at the Mariners Harbor National Bank as a Teller prior to her marriage in 1947. At the age of 24, the young wife and mother of son Lenny contracted polio and was faced with the prognosis that she could not have any more children. That proved false when, 6 years later, she gave birth to her second son, Robert. Eleanor’s claim to fame is her multi-ethnic cooking of American, Yugoslavian and Italian cuisine and was also noted for her baking skills as well. She was a talented home decorator, with an immense Lenox collection and was a parishioner of Our Lady of Pity Roman Catholic Church. Eleanor was predeceased by her husband, Leonard. Surviving are her son Leonard and daughter-in-law Lynn, and her son Robert. Additionally, survivors include 5 grandchildren (Lori, Leonard, Kenneth Pugliese and Robert and James Pugliese) along with 8 great-grandchildren.