Eleanor V. (Vernon) March

Eleanor Mary (Vernon) March, 94, of Indianapolis, passed away June 18, 2024. Eleanor was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 27th, 1929, to the late John and Maryann (Sunday) Vernon. She attended St. Mary’s Notre Dame high school, and received her A.A. in Business from the Spencerian College in Cleveland.  

In her initial years of work, she rapidly distinguished herself with her vivacity, her attention to providing excellence in all aspects of her work, rapidity of taking dictation in shorthand and her ability to type at remarkably fast rates.  She met her husband, George, at a dance sponsored by the local Newman Club in Cleveland, and they were married at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. in 1956 after 7 years of courtship.  

Eleanor, above all, was an extremely dedicated mother and wife. In 1963, she and George (who always called her his Bride) welcomed their son, Keith; and Eleanor and George focused their energies on raising him, starting with a commitment to teaching him to read at an early age. Keith strongly attributes his successes to the loving support and faith-filled influence of Eleanor and George. 

Eleanor returned to work outside the home in the mid-1970s, and she held the position of Executive Secretary to a Senior Vice President of North American Van Lines for many years prior to her retirement in the early 1990s. 

In 1990 Eleanor became a grandmother, and she began a tradition of having her grandchildren over for visits, often involving ice cream, potatoes, grilled cheeses, stuffed peppers, cabbage and noodles, and other favorite foods (“Eat more, Honey, as much as you want!”); as well as nutrolls and other traditional foods for Christmas and Easter. 

Eleanor was widowed in 2012, and in 2017 she was blessed to be able to move into St. Augustine’s Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Indianapolis, Indiana. When Keith took her to visit St. Augustine’s, it was as though a wave of peace washed over her.  She was relaxed and talked about what a wonderful place St. Augustine’s was. She moved into the home shortly thereafter, where she was able to enjoy the final years of her life surrounded by the love and prayers of the Little Sisters. The extraordinary love, kindness, and selflessness of all the Sisters toward their residents is unparalleled.

Eleanor is survived by her beloved son, Keith and his wife, Sarah; brother, Dr. Edward (Bonnie) Vernon; 6 grandchildren, Christopher (Lauren) March, Matthew March, Elizabeth (Charlie) March-Eberhart, Emily (Dylan) March-Ridder, John March, and Samuel March; and 4 great grandchildren, James, William, George, and Regina March.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation at 9:00 am on Monday, July 1, 2024 in St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church, Fishers, Indiana. Following the visitation, a Mass of Christian Burial will take place in the church at 10:00 am. 

In memory of Eleanor, contributions may be given to Little Sisters of the Poor, 2345 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260. https://www.littlesistersofthepoorindianapolis.org/donations/

Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to assist the family in arrangements.

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