Eleanor Dorothy Taylor

Eleanor Dorothy Taylor, 99, of Homestead Village died peacefully on Friday, September 13, 2024 following a lengthy illness. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, she was the daughter of the late Gordon Harper and the late Laura Betzner Harper Edworthy. She was the loving wife of the late Norman W. Taylor who passed in 2018. Mrs. Taylor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Toronto. She began her career as a caseworker on the staff of the Toronto Psychiatric Hospital and later was a medical social worker at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Subsequently, Mrs. Taylor was on the staff of Family Service of Lancaster for twenty-seven years as a family counselor and supervisor. She founded and directed the agency’s advocacy program, twice winning national awards for its achievements. She was the author of From Issue to Action: An Advocacy Program Model, a book widely used in social work agencies and university programs. In 1967, Mrs. Taylor took up a visiting appointment as professor of social work at Tunghai University in Taiwan. Mrs. Taylor was honored as Social Worker of the Year for Lancaster County and later as Social Worker of the Year for Central Pennsylvania. For her advocacy work she was given the William R. Brinton Award by Family Service. She was a charter member of the board of HomeTIES, which established the Eleanor Taylor Award, given annually in recognition of outstanding work towards affordable housing and the prevention of homelessness. Mrs. Taylor was a past member of the Board of Directors of Family Service of Lancaster, a member of the National Association of Social Workers and of the League of Women Voters. She was a member of Highland Presbyterian Church, where she served as an elder. Eleanor is survived by her son, David, husband of Rhonda Schappell Taylor of Conestoga; a daughter, Laurie, wife of Derek Leadbetter of Durham, NC, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Mark Albert Taylor, and a sister, Lois Harper of Scarborough, Ontario. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Eleanor’s Memorial Service at The Bachman Center at Homestead Village, 1800 Village Circle, Lancaster, PA 17603 on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A private interment will be held at Millersville Mennonite Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Taylor’s name to Milagro House in Lancaster located at 669 W. Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.