Eleanor Ann Bates, 75, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Born and raised in Perth Amboy, she was a graduate of St. Mary's High School. Her lifelong dedication to nursing, her faith, and love of family took her on a life's journey full of many wonderful experiences.

After graduating from Jersey City Medical Center she continued her nursing education through Seton Hall University, and obtained her MSN from Catholic University in Washington, DC. This led her to a career in Nursing Education at several colleges in New Jersey including the Charles E Gregory School of Nursing, County College of Warren and Morris County College. She had a remarkable tenure at Middlesex County College where she taught nursing for many years and was instrumental developing several key programs to develop and improve nursing education. She was also involved for many years with an International Nursing Education Program. This enabled her to extend her nursing experience and knowledge to immigrant nurses coming into the US from several countries to include Ireland, England, the Philippines, Germany and Poland.

Her dedication and love of nursing, especially in pediatrics brought her to her greatest love, her involvement with the John E. Toolan Kiddie Keep Well Camp in Edison which focuses on the wellness of disadvantaged and developmentally challenged children. She stared as a camp nurse and then served as Camp Director from 1982-1996. While serving at the camp, she also developed a "senior's camp program" to utilize the camp year-round.

Ellie was also devoted to serving her faith through her involvement in St. Mary Parish, the Council of Catholic Women in the Diocese of Metuchen where she was Past-President, and the National Council of Catholic Women.

She is preceded in death by her parents Robert and Agnes Bates, her brothers Thomas, Robert, and James Bates, and a niece Valerie Bates. She is survived by her devoted sister Agnes Bates Smith and husband Lyle; cherished nieces and nephew Gerianne Bates Kenny, Emily Smith-Thomas and husband Brady, Rita Ann Thornton and husband Roger, and Leah Cicale and husband Robert, Lyle Smith and wife Heather; great niece and nephews Maggie, Aiden, Brady, Justin, Joshua, and Tanner. She is also survived by her sister in  laws, Joan Bates and Barbara Haney Bates, her loving cousins Carol Bates, John Allan Bates and wife Rita, Margaret Campbell, and Melba Yeck; and two people who were very special to her Magdiel Irizzary and Joey Ramos.

Friends may call at Flynn and Son Funeral Home, 23 Ford Ave., Fords, NJ on Saturday, April 19, 2014 from 2:00pm – 5:00pm. The family will gather at the funeral home on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 10:00am followed by a Funeral Liturgy at 11:00am at the Blessed John Paull II Parish at St. Mary Church, 104 Center St., Perth Amboy. Interment will take place privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ellie's name to the John E. Toolan Kiddie Keep Well Camp, 35 Roosevelt Drive, Edison, NJ 08837-2333.