Eleanor (Surprenant) Morisseau

Eleanor (Surprenant) Morisseau, 87, peacefully departed on August 26, 2023 with family by her side.  Eleanor was an extraordinary woman who lived an incredibly full life.  She was loving, intelligent, educated, well-traveled, cultured, and witty.

Born in Woonsocket and a current resident of Narragansett, Rhode Island, Eleanor was a graduate of St. Clare’s in Woonsocket, Emmanuel College in Boston, and earned a master's degree from the University of Madrid.

Eleanor journeyed to Spain as a teen where her love of languages, cultures, and travel was sparked as she learned to speak Spanish.  She later established the Spanish program at Woonsocket High School, where she also taught French for 34 years.  Upon her retirement, her passion for languages continued to lead her to serve as an adjunct professor at several Rhode Island colleges and universities and take on leadership roles with the Rhode Island Foreign Language Association. 

Eleanor touched not only the lives of her students, but her friends, family, and countless others.  She volunteered her time and shared her love with those in her church, most notably with Meals on Wheels and the Senior Center organizations.  Eleanor was also a foster mother for two babies and later adopted a teenage son.

During her lifetime, Eleanor loved watching her children and grandchildren participate in sports, dance, and other activities.  She enjoyed traveling, cooking, participating in sports, spending time on the beach, and boogie boarding the ocean waves.  Following her Boston sports teams, tailgating, and attending Patriots games were some of her favorite pastimes.  Whatever she did and wherever she went, she enjoyed it most with the love of her life and best friend, Gerry, by her side.  She was full of life and always the life of the party.

Eleanor is predeceased by her parents Frank and Emily (Petersen) Surprenant and her brother Frank Surprenant.  Eleanor leaves behind her beloved husband of 58 years, Gerry Morisseau; a daughter, Barbara Morisseau; two sons, Jim Morisseau and Ron (Denise) Treat; six grandchildren, Emily Morisseau, Callan Morisseau, Summer (Nick) Hedge, Serena Schmitt, Sara Treat, and Brandon Treat; one great granddaughter, Blake Morisseau; and several nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins. 

Though Eleanor’s physical presence may no longer be with us, her beautiful spirit will forever live on in the hearts who knew and loved her.

Her funeral will be held Thursday, August 31, 2023 beginning at 9AM from the Holt Funeral Home, 510 South Main St., Woonsocket, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10AM in St. Agatha’s Church, 34 Joffre Ave., Woonsocket. Burial will be private. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4 – 7PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christian Brothers Center, 635 Ocean Rd., Narragansett, RI 02882.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eleanor (Surprenant) Morisseau, please visit our floral store.