Eleanor Hahesy

Eleanor T. (Doherty) Hahesy, a retired public school art teacher and recent resident of Hopkinton, died at her home, in the loving presence of her devoted family, on Jan. 14, 2025, following a long period of declining health. She was 82 years old.

Born in Everett, Mrs. Hahesy grew up in nearby Revere, attended Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Boston and graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in  painting and drawing.

She began her career in the Boston public schools in 1964, teaching there for six years. In August of 1970, she married James E. Hahesy Jr., and the couple relocated to the Pioneer Valley, where Mr. Hahesy, a former Army officer, was beginning an administrative career in the Connecticut state college and university system. Mrs. Hahesy, who had earned a master’s in education from Cambridge College, began teaching that year in the Springfield public schools. She went on to teach in Springfield for 30 years, helping students of all backgrounds and every level of ability to discover and express their “inner artist.”

A woman of great poise and humor, Eleanor commanded the classroom quietly, respecting and encouraging each and every student. She seldom raised her voice while drawing easily upon her skills and experience to inspire all who were in her classes. For most of their lives, Mr. and Mrs. Hahesy resided in Longmeadow, where the couple raised their daughter, Elizabeth (Hahesy) Getchell, a product of the Longmeadow schools who went on to become an educator herself. The family belonged to St. Mary’s parish in that locality.

When her daughter, following graduation from Boston College, took a position at the Glenbrook Middle School in Longmeadow, Eleanor transferred to the Longmeadow school system to be closer to her and to witness Elizabeth’s progress in the profession. Eleanor taught at Williams Middle School from 2000-04, whereupon she retired and devoted herself to her own art, mainly painting with acrylics. Her works were exhibited in several juried shows in Boston and Springfield.

While spending time at the family’s vacation home in Wilmington, Vermont, Eleanor joined The Vermont Plein Air Painters and exhibited works at the Young and Constantine Gallery in Wilmington. She was a member of the Wilbraham (Massachusetts) Art League and the Tobacco Valley Artists Association of Connecticut.

Besides her husband and daughter, Mrs. Hahesy is survived by her son-in-law, Keith A. Getchell; her three grandchildren, Grace, Ella and James; her nieces, Kathleen Coffey, Maria Caron and Sheila Koutelis; and her nephew, Christopher Caron. She also leaves behind a large contingent of loving in-laws. The Getchells are longtime Hopkinton residents.

Mrs. Hahesy was the daughter of the late Michael W. and Anna Grace (McMackin) Doherty. She was predeceased by her brother, Michael, and her sister, Louise O’Sullivan.

Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 2-5 p.m. at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, Hopkinton. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 10:30 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church, Hopkinton. Prior to the funeral, family and friends are welcome to gather at the funeral home starting at 9:30 a.m. for procession to church. Interment immediately following the funeral Mass will be in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Hopkinton.

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