Eleanore Mary Smiskey Wensel, 95, of St. Francis Apartments in Eau Claire, Wisconsin died at Sacred Heart Hospital on June 8, 2007, of complications from pneumonia. Born in Eau Claire on December 24, 1911, she was the oldest of six children of Robert and Mary (Thomas) Smiskey of Birch Street. \r\nShe was married for 53 years to John Wensel of Menomonie, WI on June 29, 1940, who she nicknamed "tweet", and he "tweeter".\r\nShe gave birth to her only child, Carol Anne, on December 22, 1950. "That was the best birthday and Christmas Present any one could ever hope for." she often reminded us, when we tried to commiserate with her for having her birthday on Christmas Eve.\r\nEleanore is survived by her daughter, Carol Anne Wensel Kent and son-in-law, Christopher Kent of Salem, Massachusetts; two grandsons, Alexander John Kent of Boulder, CO and Nicholas Wadleigh Kent of Boston, MA; a sister, Margaret Bjornton of Eau Claire; and many nieces and nephews. \r\nShe was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; two brothers, Robert and Donnie Smiskey; and two sisters, Marcella Brandl and Mary Ann Strand.\r\nEleanore attended nurse's training school at the old Sacred Heart Hospital, but left before receiving her degree to help take care of her younger siblings following her father's death when she was 18. She made the decision to become a nurse, as a young girl while accompanying her dad when he brought soup and well wishes to friends he visited at the hospital. "I just loved the sounds and smells of the hospital, and my father's example set me on the path to nursing."\r\nShe took a sabbatical from nursing when Carol Anne was born, and again, when Carol Anne went to college. She undertook private duty nursing for Mr. Louis Phillips for many years. When John died in 1993, she began volunteering regularly at Sacred Heart Hospital carrying on nurturing and quiet conversations with cancer patients and their families.\r\nShe was devoted to her family as a loving mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother.\r\nEleanore was a devoted Catholic and life long daily communicant. She embodied the best to be found in religious faith. She faithfully attended daily Mass, at church or chapel, whether home or away, and lately via the television as the Osteoarthritis ground her down physically but not in spirit.\r\nForgiving and accepting, she would defend another's lack of faith or poor manners with..."We are all individuals." or gently remind us that, "no two people are alike and we must accept."\r\nHer niece Diane Strand, a Registered Nurse, said upon acknowledging her final days, "I learned from her that it is not so much the life you lived that matters, but the way you live your life that counts."\r\nA special thank you from Eleanore and her daughter to her "end of life caregivers" RN, Margaret (Peggy) Weiland and RN, Monica Lombard and Hospice Professional Karen Geisler.\r\nMass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2007, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Eugene Klink and Father Edmund Klimek officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Eau Claire. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home. A public prayer service will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.\r\nIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sacred Heart Hospital Cancer Unit, 900 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701.

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