Eleanor (Ellie) Gianni, had no idea of the impact she had on other peoples lives. She was humble and had a huge heart. She never said 'no' to anyone. There was always room at their dinner table for anyone who happened by. The impact that she had on her community and her family is boundless and her daughter, Claire Gianni Sinclair, is here to share her mother's story. You're familiar with the expression "the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree?" Well, just listen to this wonderful story of 2 women who love to give and share effortlessly.
To say that Claire Sinclair is generous with her time, is an understatement. She's been a teacher for decades. And currently she's teaching kindergarten in the same classroom at the same elementary school she attended.
What's interesting about how our conversation began is that both Claire and her mother attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ and both women married their high school sweethearts, just decades apart.
Claire shares stories of the similarities of she and her mom and how much it means to her that so many people from her community still hold her mother close to their heart. Claire's mother, 'Ellie,' was known as "The Duck Lady" in Maplewood/South Orange NJ. What she started many years ago as a simple race in a brook with plastic ducks has grown to raising tens of thousands of dollars annually for different organizations that help and support kids, ie Kiwanis, Scouts, YMCA, etc.
Ellie's mom, Claire's maternal grandmother, passed away when Ellie was in her 20's. When Ellie's father remarried, there was no real love between she and her step mother so she moved in with one of her favorite aunts, Aunt Fay, her birth mother's sister, who ran a preschool out of her home. Ellie had interests in nursing and/or becoming a teacher but her career was cut short when it was time to start a family.
Claire says "she likes to dabble in a little bit of everything, just like her mom." Claire is involved in community awareness when it comes to food insecure families. She volunteers regularly at local food pantries distributing food as well as keeping her young students involved by organizing can drives at the elementary school. As a board member for MEND, Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity, located throughout Essex County, NJ, Claire regularly sees families in need of help and like her mom, it's hard for her to say no to helping others.
Claire is the administrator of a Facebook Group, 'Habitual Gratitude 365' where she shares daily prompts of things that her multitude of followers are grateful for. Again, like her mom, and as a mother, she loves to help others in need.
Claire's mother passed away in 2013 but she's left an imprint on the community. Claire was lucky enough to have one last phone call from her mom and she's so happy that she picked up that call.
Claire also has a park bench in Maplewood Memorial Park, which was dedicated to her mother, by the community, nestled nicely right beside the brook where Ellie started her very first Memorial Day 'Duck Race.' That's where Claire goes on a regular basis to feel her mother's support, love and guidance.
SHLTMM YOUTUBE CHANNEL: You can now listen to my podcasts on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoUWxgQECqrMqI1ylVH9Dpw
Claire Sinclair's Recent book:
The Mice Wo Came to Story Time
Facebook Page:Habitual Gratitude 365
LinkedIn: Claire Sinclair