Senior of the Month: Eloise Duquette

On Friday, March 2, 1928 in Rockland, Mass., a town 17 miles southeast of Boston, Nora Sullivan and Cleveland McGee had their fourth child. Two brothers and three sisters made up this family. Her mother was a devoted Irish catholic and went to mass every day of the week no matter what.

Eloise kept busy in school by being involved in plays, dances and gymnastics until that fateful day in the eighth grade. It was then that Eloise joined the choir. Even to this day, she loves to sing. After graduating from school, Eloise went to work in Woolworths five and dime store.

From a song introduced in May 1931, Fanny Brice sang, “I found a million dollar baby in a five and ten cent store.” Bob Duquette said this was his line as on July 26, 1950 he and Eloise were married. Bob came from a family of 20 children. Eloise was a stay-at-home housewife having six children to look after. Bob ran a restaurant and lounge. When their youngest finally graduated, Eloise went to work in the lounge as a barmaid.

In 1982, Bob wanted to move to Florida. Eloise loved the four seasons and wanted to stay in Massachusetts but finally went along with the move. She went to work in the bakery at Epcot for eight years and continued working for Walt Disney World for a total of 15 years.

Eloise‘s children now live in Jacksonville, Ocala and Orlando. She has 10 grandchildren — consisting of seven boys and three girls — and three great grandsons and one great grand daughter. Her time is now spent singing in the choir, playing dominoes, dancing and spending time with her family.