Eleanor (Butrim) Drankoski

Eleanor Drankoski, 82, of Binghamton, NY passed away at her home on May 30, 2024 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.  She lived a long and happy life, surrounded by a loving family.  Eleanor is predeceased by her parents,  Anna and Simon Butrim, brother Paul and mother and father-in-law Helen and Edward Drankoski.  She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Richard Drankoski, her son James (Jessica) Drankoski, daughter Lisa (Jeffrey) Greene, grandchildren Taylor Reed, Alison, Parker and Anna Drankoski, Ella and Zachary Greene, sister Anna Butrim, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Sharon and John Prevedello and close family members Michelle Drankoski and Tony Crosby.  
Eleanor grew up collecting shells on the shores of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island in Washington state.  Her father was in the Navy and she grew up as a military child.  She moved around from place to place, living for a time in Waukegan, Illinois and even Japan, but spent most of her childhood and early adult life living in Washington, where she held her first job as a teacher. It was there too, that she met the love of her life, got married and moved across the country to Binghamton, NY, eventually settling in Conklin.  She continued her love for teaching spending many years of her life at Ben Franklin Elementary School in Binghamton as a teacher’s aide, as well as volunteering at St. Mary’s Church in Kirkwood teaching Catechism. She also worked for many years at Singer Link in Kirkwood. 
Eleanor enjoyed many pastimes.  She loved to read and would spend hours with a good book.  She delighted in music, and on a rare occasion played the accordion she had learned in her youth.  She fondly recounted memories by displaying her array of shells, rocks and thimbles.  She found joy throughout her life by sharing these interests with her children and grandchildren.   From time to time, you’d also find her joining her husband in some of his favorite activities including fishing, snowmobiling and even hopping on the back of his motorcycle.  At the end of the day, the best way to relax was with her favorite Hallmark movie.  
The funeral will be a private ceremony remembering Eleanor in the presence of close family.   If you’d like to make a donation in her honor, please consider the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org. 

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