Eleanor C Berry

Eleanor (Elie) C. Berry, 96, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 15, 2025, at Ohio’s Hospice at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Elie was born on November 6, 1928, in Mineola, New York. She studied biology and earned a B.A. from Hiram College in Ohio, followed by an M.A. from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York. After graduating, she taught occupational therapy at Columbia and went on to serve as an occupational therapist at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, and at Bellevue Hospital in New York—the nation’s oldest public hospital.

On June 22, 1956, Elie married Frank Berry in Newark Valley, New York. They shared 67 years together.

After relocating from the East Coast to western North Carolina, Elie dedicated the remainder of her professional life to supporting vocational students with special needs at Swain County High School in Bryson City. She also served as Vice President of the North Carolina Special Needs Association, advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

A devoted Christian, Elie lived by the teachings of Jesus—especially in her belief in welcoming, loving, and accepting all people. She taught Sunday school and participated in adult Bible classes for many years.

Elie had a wide range of creative interests, including photography, needle arts, jewelry making, and choral singing. She was a founding member of the Pickerington Community Chorus and a highly regarded quilter. One of her quilts won the Appalachian Regional Commission’s “We the Quilters” competition, created to honor the U.S. Constitution during the Bicentennial years of 1986–1989. That quilt traveled to government agencies across 13 Appalachian states over three years.

Her award-winning quilts were featured in national art magazines and exhibited at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio; the Southern Highland Craft Guild in Asheville, North Carolina; and at universities including Western Carolina University and The Ohio State University.

Elie loved to travel and visited much of the United States and Europe. She also took part in mission trips. Known for her joyful spirit, she was often heard singing, had an undeniable sweet tooth—especially for chocolate—and a gift for gab.

She is survived by her daughter, Melanie (Christopher) Tracy; her son, Jon Berry; and her granddaughters, Madison Tracy and Sierra Berry. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Berry, and her parents, Helena and Richard Bowen.

A private memorial service will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are invited to honor Elie’s memory by donating to the Pickerington Community Chorus or the Pickerington Food Pantry.