Eleanor Gunther Escherich of New Canaan, Connecticut died peacefully on June 4, 2026 at nearly 100 years old. As she often said, she’d had a wonderful life.

Eleanor, who preferred to be called “Nanny,” lived life to its fullest. The consummate hostess, she possessed an uncanny attention to detail and an unmatched collection of beloved recipes. She was exceedingly generous in every way, especially with her time and her attention. She was a maker and keeper of memories and magic, and a matriarch in every sense of the word.

Born in the Bronx, New York, to Rudolf and Else Gunther, Eleanor grew up as an accomplished dancer, actress, swimmer and outstanding student at the all-girls Walton High School in New York City. While working at the First National City Bank on Wall Street in the late 1940s, Eleanor attended night classes at Hunter College. After spending two decades raising her family, she returned to college and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Herbert Lehman College in 1973.

Eleanor was predeceased by her husband Fred, whom she married at twenty. They shared 50 wonderful and eventful years of marriage, including traveling the world on annual and often exotic trips. Following her husband’s death, Eleanor pursued her wanderlust with adventures in Tanzania and Kenya, Tibet and China, Thailand, the Holy Land, Peru and Machu Picchu, and South Africa.

Eleanor also delighted in the everyday pleasures of home and family. She lived in Eastchester, New York, for 35 years and New Canaan for 34, where she enjoyed spending time with her many friends at the Lapham Senior Center and her wonderful neighbors at Hathaway Common.

The greatest gift in Eleanor’s life was her family. She is survived by her son Frederic A. Escherich (Mary) of Bronxville, New York; her daughter Joan E. Escherich of Mount Vernon, New York; and her son Kyle G. Escherich (Carolyn) of Fernandina Beach, Florida. A grandmother for nearly half a century, Nanny cherished her eight grandchildren: Katie Morison (Mark), Megan Evans (Greg), John Escherich (Kara), Courtney Eschinger (Shaun), Whitney Welshimer (Marc Gerber), Grace Naef, Dr. Mary Laird (James), and Samantha Wilcox (David).

She was also blessed with 12 great-grandchildren who filled the last 15 years of her life with extraordinary joy and laughter: Juliet, William and Austin Morison; Claire and Jack Evans; Teddy and Milly Eschinger; Grayson and Wesley Laird; Stella Gerber; Molly Escherich; and Eleanor “Nora” Wilcox. Nanny watched this next generation play, dance, sing, and shine in the light of her love.

The Family is being compassionately cared for by the staff at Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, New Canaan CT 06840

For online condolences please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com