Columbia, SC - After a long and gracious battle with Alzheimer's Disease, Eleanore Virginia Evans Karvois, was freed on July 18, 2017. Eleanore was a bookkeeper for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and for Western Electric Co. and volunteered with AARP to help Senior Citizens prepare tax returns for many years. She enjoyed a full life into her mid-80s, having cruised most of the world (despite battling motion sickness), and touring 43 countries with her husband Bill (William A.) Karvois, who predeceased her in 2003. To be nearer to family, Eleanore moved from King of Prussia, PA to Columbia, SC in 2005. Continuing her commitment to fitness, she settled into a senior living apartment with easy access to a gym. At age 80, Eleanore regularly climbed three flights of stairs to her apartment because the elevator was too slow! When she was 84, Eleanore moved next door to her daughter, Ginny, where she was able to continue to live 'independently' as Alzheimer's diminished her abilities. Since December, 2014, Eleanore's laugh and out-going spirit entertained residents and caregivers at the Palmettos of Parklane Memory Care Unit. Her family is deeply grateful for the wonderful care she received there, especially from Tomyka, Liz, and Lisa, and from Kayleigh and Mary from Always Best Care.
Eleanore is survived by her children and their spouses, Ginny and Bill Eiwen, Roseann and Gary Bush, and Buddy and Dee Karvois; grandchildren and their spouses, Christa (Eiwen) and Brian Willoughby, Kate (Eiwen) and Kevin Babusiak, Evan Karvois, Cecilia (Karvois) and Zach Davis, Jacob and Kim Fadley, Katie (Fadley) and Brandon Longwell, and Maggie Fadley and Adam Peterson; and her great-grandchildren, Connor, Luke, and Nick Willoughby, Gavin, Anna Claire, and Chandler Babusiak, Ava Fadley-Peterson, and Ella Longwell.
A service to celebrate Eleanore's 92 years will be held at Reformation Lutheran Church, 1118 Union St., Columbia, SC on August 20, 2017 at 2:00 PM, with inurnment in Pennsylvania at a future date. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (act.alz.org), P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.