Eleanor Irene Butera Kordsmeier, of North Little Rock passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at her home. She was born July 18, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Anthony and Stella Paiotrowski Zembrzuski. She married Mariano "Mario" Butera in Brooklyn, New York. While married to Mario, they lived in New York, Illinois and Texas before making North Little Rock their home in 1985.
Eleanor was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Little Rock.
Eleanor enjoyed a full life. She stayed busy having fun and helping others have fun. She was a member of a dancing group, Calamity Belles, later known as the Senior Sensations. Theses ladies entertained patients at nursing homes and hospitals.
Eleanor and John Hum started the Big Rock Chapter of the AARP. As the activities director, Eleanor did an excellent job planning and booking trips to Branson and Tunica as well as other interesting destinations for the members. In 1996, Eleanor received an Award for Outstanding Service to the Community from AARP. She also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Ladies of North Little Rock.
Every Sunday Eleanor would go to a movie or to a play at the Rep with her friend Bennie Hearn. In 2003, she met E.H. "Gene" Kordsmeier through AARP. They married on September 3, 2005. Together they enjoyed a honeymoon in Italy; pinochle on Tuesdays at the Patrick Henry Hays Center; numerous cruises, trips to Las Vegas and California, and a standing monthly poker game on Sunday nights with their friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her first husband, Mario; brother, Richard Zembrzuski; stepfather, Michael Kurak; and her son, Andrew, who died at age 3 of leukemia. Survivors include her husband, E.H. "Gene" Kordsmeier, Sr., son Donald and wife Cheryl Butera of Encinitas, California; and three grandchildren she adored: Brian, Jeffrey and Mariah Butera. She is also survived by Gene's children: Cheryl and Dean Overstreet; Gene and Debbie Kordsmeier; Karen Coburn; Theresa and Mark Fenner; Anita and Brad Paul; and Roger Kordsmeier; grandchildren: Kristin, Kim, Katie, Ashley, Kristy, Justin, Melissa, Sarah, Austin, Brennan and Evan; and great-grandchildren: Gage, Brynn, Mabry, Maddie, Ava, Jane-Anne and Eldon.
The family would like to thank Arkansas Hospice and her numerous caregivers who comforted Eleanor during her illness, especially Tanya and Cathy.
Donald and Cheryl Butera would like to thank the Kordsmeier family for all the love and care they gave Eleanor throughout her life and especially at the end.
Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial will be in Rest Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., at the North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., 758-1170. Online obituary and guest registry at www.nlrfh.com.