Eleanor M. LeBlanc, Former Waltham Councilor's Mother, Dies At 93

WALTHAM, MA —Eleanor M. LeBlanc, the mother of the former Waltham city councilor and mayoral candidate Diane LeBlanc, died at Lahey Clinic in Burlington on Sunday, April 5. She was 93 years old. She was a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and a cook, as well as a meticulous gardener, friend and advocate, according to her obituary.

LeBlanc was born on April 15, 1926 in Newton. She was raised in the Garden City but had been a Waltham resident for more than 50 years, her obituary said.

"Her family remembers her as a political 'junky' who kept up on local and national politics even in her final days. If you heard her yelling at the television it was either because she was engaged in a Red Sox game or she was giving a politician a piece of her mind—she was quite the personality," according to her obituary on Legacy.com.

Family described her as a quick witted, hard worker — a woman of unswerving resolve and a loving, encouraging matriarch. Her obituary said she taught her children by example and stood up for what she believed in.

She worked as a waitress at Simeone's Restaurant in Cambridge, in dining services at Honeywell, the Holiday Inn, ThermoElectron and at Harvard University, according to her obituary.

"She was a voice and an advocate for Waltham's seniors. Her dedicated service extended beyond what was expected as she served many years on the Council on Aging as their Vice President and fought hard for the senior center. She was also active in the Southside Seniors, the Golden Age Club, and the North Waltham Senior Citizens," her obituary said.

In addition to spending time with her family, she loved singing and playing the guitar at Ellis Haven Campground in Plymouth where she served as Secretary of the Campers Association. In her younger years she also served as a Girl Scout Leader.

She was presided in death by her husband Frederick P. LeBlanc, and her brothers Joseph A. Taranto, Richard Taranto, and Stephen Taranto, her sister, Catherine Wamboldt and her longtime friend, William H. Sutter.

She leaves her daughters, Janet L. McIntyre of West Roxbury, Linda J. Marry of Brockton, and Diane P. LeBlanc of Waltham, as well as a granddaughter and great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Mass for Eleanor will be held at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, in Waltham, the church LeBlanc attended, Saturday, August 29 at 10 a.m.

Read her full obituary