Eleanor (Faltings) Schurman

Eleanor Mae Faltings Schurman of Fairfield, died on Sunday, July 17, 2022 at the Jewish Home in Bridgeport under the care of the Hospice Team and the compassionate staff. Ellie had struggled for several years with Alzheimer’s Disease, often with humor and grace, and sometimes with a bit of spunk.

Ellie was born on August 5, 1938 at Shore Road Hospital in Brooklyn, NY to Ferdinand and Alice Faltings. As a young girl Eleanor lived in New Hyde Park on Long Island, and moved to Westport CT when she was 15 years old when her father purchased a Carvel Ice Cream Franchise. She graduated from Staples High School in 1956 and married Elefterious Albert Schurman (Al) the same year on September 22nd. Her father-in-called her “Sunshine”, never her given name, and anyone that knew her couldn’t disagree.

Eleanor worked at Westport Bank and Trust as well as at the Carvel in Westport. In 1968 her father moved back to Germany and she took over the business, where she remained as Owner/Operator of the Carvel for more than 50 years. Ellie touched many lives while she operated the ice cream business. She loved working with teenagers and was there so long she hired successive generations of employees. She was very talented at decorating cakes and enjoyed every moment behind the counter. Every Halloween Ellie dressed up in costume for work which delighted her customers and employees. She loved having fun at work, but would not slack or allow her employees to either. “If you’ve got time to lean, you’ve got time to clean” was her mantra at the Carvel. Customers would always remark on the cleanliness of the establishment, which made Ellie beam with pride and it led her to win the Clean Store Award from Carvel in 1989. Eleanor also owned and operated Carvel Stores in Stratford and Danbury during her tenure as Ellie the Ice Cream Lady.

Ellie sold the businesses and retired to a life of volunteerism and service, and to take daily walks around the University with her iPod Shuffle playing Bette Midler and Show Tunes. She was very involved with the Black Rock Church Ministries and was a Pioneer Girl Leader for several years. She made many lifelong friends there and was an active member of Seniors of the Rock. Ellie and Al took several mission trips abroad and she was able to use her skills as a cook to help in the kitchens along with the local women.

Eleanor will be fondly remembered for her sense of humor, her smile that could light up a room and her ability to laugh at herself or a bawdy joke.

She will be missed by her daughter Susan O’Donnell, son-in-law Mike O’Donnell Jr., and their children Michael (Ashley), Shawn and Caitlin; a son E.A. Schurman Jr, and daughter-in-law Terri Schurman, and their daughters Taylor, Alexandra and Courtney Schurman; a son Thomas J. Schurman and daughter-in-law Andrea Schurman, and their children Adrianna and Thomas J. Schurman Jr.; a sister Bonnie Tenay and her husband Ron, as well as several nieces, nephews and past employees of the Carvel.

She is predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Albert, her sister Mary Jane Eiby, her parents and her step-mother.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at The Jewish Home. They made Ellie’s passing more comfortable, and easier for her family to say good-bye. We also would like to thank her good friend Nancie O’Sullivan for her love and dedication to our mother.

Calling hours will be at Spear-Miller Funeral Home 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield, CT on Friday July 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with a service of remembrance from 1:00 -1:30, followed by her burial at Mountain Grove Cemetery.