Obituary of Eleanor Catherine Napier

Eleanor Catherine Napier

Life Story

Eleanor Napier of Simi Valley passed away peacefully at 94 years young on July 24, 2018. She was able to live in her own home on her own terms until her last day.  She was lovingly visited by her three children, a granddaughter, and her great granddaughter in the hospital the day she died.

Eleanor Catherine Napier was born in Newark, New Jersey on March 3, 1924 to Hungarian born parents, Andrew and Mary Deak.  She grew up in Newark, volunteered for the U.S.O.  during World War II and was employed at General Electric in the secretary pool.

She married John Napier on July 4, 1953 in Saint Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church in Newark. Soon after, they moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1965, the family bought the home Eleanor would live in for the rest of her life in Simi Valley.  Eleanor worked as a homemaker and for many years as a part-time pre-school teacher at Church of the Living Christ.

Eleanor loved to travel with her husband John and her friends from the senior center, especially on cruises. She also enjoyed shopping for her friends and family, reading romance novels and watching Jeopardy and the Hallmark Channel. 

Eleanor was devoted to her family and friends.  For years, she opened her home to many who needed a place to live. After her own children were grown, she provided childcare and helped raise many of her grandchildren.  She loved to dress up and go to church and visit with her large circle of friends.

Eleanor leaves behind three children, daughter Maryanne Larkin, daughter Alison Dorce and her husband, David, and son John and his wife Monica, and her unofficially adopted daughter, Beth Madrazo. She had six grandchildren, Daniel Dorce, Stephen Larkin, Joseph Larkin, Rebecca Tucci, Morgan Cavanaugh and Chelsea Napier. She also has one great granddaughter, Emelia Tucci, and two more great grandchildren on the way.

The visitation is at Rose Family Funeral Home, 4444 Cochran St. Simi Valley, Friday, July 27th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Her Memorial Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 28^th at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Living Christ, 171 Royal Ave.  Simi Valley.  Her burial is scheduled for Tuesday, July 31st at 10 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Cemetery, 1380 Fitzgerald Road, Simi Valley.