WALLINGFORD – Elinor (Wright) Gehrke, died Friday, November 10, 2006 at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford. She was the wife of the late Harold C. Gehrke, Jr. She was born in New Haven on October 11, 1933, daughter of the late William and Rose (Garbero) Wright, Sr. Until her retirement in 1994, she was a physical therapy aide at Gaylord Hospital for 27 years. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Meriden. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Laurie Gehrke of Brewer, ME; her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and William Sharkey of Guilderland, NY; two brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Susan Wright of Prospect, CT and Donald and Patricia Wright of North Haven, CT; her sister, Terry Wright of Guilford, CT; five grandchildren; Ryan Sharkey of Albany, NY; Meghan Sharkey of East Boston, MA; Jennifer (Gehrke) Mulcahy and her husband John of Wallingford; James Gehrke of Winterport, ME; and Cassie (Betters) Craig and her husband Shawn, of East Windsor, CT; one great granddaughter, Ryleigh Craig; and two nephews. Elinor's interests included traveling with her late husband Harold. They traversed all fifty states during their lifetime, visiting many of the National Parks, along with a sampling of the local cuisine. In addition to travel, Elinor was a wonderful cook and taught her family members all the great recipes she had developed over her lifetime. She could entertain large groups of people, all the while delivering the very best in food. She was a devoted grandmother who cherished and always took great interest in the lives of her grandchildren who will miss her unconditional love, free spirit, guidance and overall zest for life. She will be missed by all and her legacy is that of generosity and love of family. The family would like to thank the staff of MidState Medical Center and the staff of The Connecticut Hospice in Branford for their outstanding care and support. The family also wishes to extend a very special thank you to her granddaughter and her husband, Jennifer and John Mulcahy, for their unwavering care and devotion to Elinor during this trying time. Friends may call at the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 South Elm Street, Wallingford, on Monday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The funeral cortège will leave the funeral home on Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. service at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 164 Hanover St., Meriden. Burial will be at the In Memoriam Cemetery, Wallingford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Make -A-Wish Foundation of CT, Inc., 126 Monroe Turnpike, Trumbull, CT 06611 or online at www.ct.wish.org