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Eleanor P. Cordrey, Beebe retiree

June 28, 2022

Eleanor P. Cordrey, 91, of Millsboro, formerly of Lewes, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at her home.  

Eleanor was born July 30, 1930, in Lewes, daughter of the late Carl E. Phillips and the late Anna Margaret (Marsh) Phillips. She graduated from Rehoboth High School, Class of 1948, and graduated from Beebe School of Nursing in 1951.  

After graduating from Beebe School of Nursing, she immediately began her 49-year career with Beebe Medical Center, retiring in 2000.  She was lovingly known as Mom Mom by her co-workers and received numerous accolades during her career. She was the recipient of the Excellence in Nursing Award, and had an award named after her, the Eleanor Cordrey Nursing Excellence Award. Throughout her time at Beebe and even after her retirement, she faithfully donated her time knitting baby bonnets and used her skills in calligraphy to write birth certificates.  

Eleanor was also devoted to her church. She was a faithful member at Groome Church in Lewes, where she served on countless committees. She also volunteered at the Lewes Public Library, where she received Volunteer of the Year honors. Eleanor will be remembered as a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and co-worker.  

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Greg Melson and Page Melson; two brothers, Joseph Phillips and James Phillips; and a sister, Virginia Cottingham. Eleanor is survived by her loving husband of 51 years and caregiver, Robert E. Cordrey Sr.; four children, Chris Melson and his wife Theresa of Chesapeake Beach, Md., Margaret McCurdy and her husband Chris of Palm Bay, Fla., Sandy Baker and her husband Robert of Georgetown, and Dale Cordrey and his wife Tammie of Centerville, Ga.; a great-niece whom she raised, Michelle Phillips; a brother, Lou Phillips and his wife Bette of Lewes; a special daughter-in-law, Linda Melson; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.  

The family would also like to thank Delaware Hospice for their kind and compassionate care to Eleanor, and offer a special thanks to Samara Price and Jackie Watts, nurses with Delaware Hospice.  

A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Saturday, July 9, at the Long Neck Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 32013 Long Neck Road, Millsboro, where a funeral service will begin at 11 a.m.  Interment will be held privately at a later date, at Henlopen Memorial Park in Milton.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Eleanor’s name to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting melsonfuneralservices.com.    

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