Eleanor S. (Campbell) Begley, 91, of Dartmouth died July 25, 2024 peacefully at home. She was the wife of Edward S. Begley, with whom she shared 74 years of marriage. They were lifelong residents of New Bedford until moving to Dartmouth last year.

She was the daughter of the late Clarence Stewart Campbell and Mary Parker (Crowley) Tomlinson. Eleanor was a lifelong member of Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford and proud to be the sixth generation in her family to attend Grace.

The mother of five children, she rejoined the work force after her youngest child entered kindergarten, working for the Head Start program in New Bedford. While working with Head Start she decided to pursue a college degree. That was the start of a 13 year journey of night classes, first at Bridgewater State College and eventually Southeastern Massachusetts University (SMU). That journey culminated with the award of a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree, with highest distinction, in 1980, a proud milestone for Eleanor. During that time she began working at Acushnet Company in New Bedford, eventually becoming a Human Resources specialist. She was a member of the New Bedford Personnel Directors Association.

Her greatest joy and pleasure was her family. She loved them and cherished every moment spent with them. She was the "glue" that held everything together in her busy household. Even though she was working, she made sure everyone got to their activities and she and Ed were always there to watch the children participate in their various school, sports, dancing, scouting and other events. She also organized multiple family trips to locations such as Washington, DC, Gettysburg, PA, Niagara Falls, NY, the White Mts in New Hampshire and Lake George, NY affording her children the opportunity to see other places. After she and her husband retired, they spent countless hours helping to care for their grandchildren and going to watch their sporting and other special events.

Eleanor also enjoyed working in her garden, reading and knitting. She also adored animals and there were many family pets over the years. They included dogs, cats, hamsters, canaries, parakeets, fish and turtles. She leaves behind her beloved cat, Bingo.

Survivors include her husband Edward; her 5 children, Sharlene Begley and her partner Ronald Blocker of Carrollton, TX, Sharon Mingola of New Bedford, Susan St. Gelais and her husband Charles of Lakeville, Edward S. Begley, Jr. and his wife Iris of Dartmouth and Sandra Raposo and her husband John of New Bedford; a brother, Malcolm Campbell and his wife Louise of Gold River, CA; 9 grandchildren, Kimberly Mello, Nathan St. Gelais and his wife Allison, Erin Mingola, Samuel St. Gelais and his wife Jennifer, Jocelyn Raposo and her partner Kevin Carreiro, Timothy Abisamra, James Abisamra and his fiancée Kathleen Campbell, Chantal Canha and her husband Josh, Jay Raposo; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was the grandmother of the late Alex Mingola.

A private graveside service will be held in Oak Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CARE Southcoast (animal rescue organization), PO 149, East Freetown, MA 02717 or Grace Episcopal Church.