Eleanore “Honey” (Whalen) Saliba

Mrs. Eleanore “Honey” (Whalen) Saliba, of Weymouth, passed away on December 15, 2023.

Honey Saliba was born in Boston and grew up with her 5 siblings in South Boston before moving to Hyde Park. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1953 where she was voted “most humorous” by her peers. Married in 1955 to her lifelong love, Honey and Eddie raised 6 children together. Honey was known to say that all she ever wanted was babies and she stayed at home to care for hers. She volunteered at their schools and taught CCD. She once held a fundraiser dance to raise money for the CYO baseball team uniforms. When all of her children were in school, Honey sought employment as a Corrections Officer at Plymouth County House of Correction, a first step in pursuing her dream of becoming a police officer. Her height and gender precluded her from her aspiration so in true “Honey” fashion, she adapted. She went on to become a court officer and incidentally, the first female in Massachusetts to oversee a lock-up. She managed Brockton District Court’s Lock-Up where she was very well respected by attorneys, prisoners, judges, court staff as well as the community.

Honey loved to work with her hands and had a large collection of all types of tools. She was especially interested in gadgets and “as seen on TV” products. She always said, “If you can read, you can do anything.” She would borrow a book from the library and do anything from fix a large household appliance to learn how to cook Lebanese food for her family. Puppies, kittens, babies and kids were all magnetically drawn to her. Kids could sense her love for them and her child like nature. Most of all, she loved her grandchildren. She enjoyed them immensely and had unique relationships with each one of them. Her house was always open and she welcomed all who came into her home. Her generosity and empathy for those less fortunate was boundless. Honey was everyone’s Nana.

Wife of the late Edmond T. Saliba.

Mother of Donna M. Harrison of Braintree, Edmond A Saliba of Plymouth, Dianne M. Kelleher and husband Danny of Sandwich, Daniel C. Saliba, of Lexington, Jeffrey W. Saliba and wife Stephanie of Peabody, and Keri A. Mocanu and her husband, Tommy, of Weymouth. Sister of Mary Jane Remondi of Pembroke and Estelle Stanley of Centerville, and the late Edward Whalen, William Whalen, and Mabel Dudek. Nana to Jeff, Eddie, Maggie, Joe, Tommy, Amanda, and Kelsey. Great Nana to Tristan and Gavin. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Wednesday, December 27th, from 4-7 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital).

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 10:45 AM on Thursday, December 28th, prior to the Funeral Mass in Immaculate Conception Church, Weymouth at 12 Noon. Cremation will follow.

Donations in memory of Eleanore may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.