Eleanor Ann Rager, 83, of 608 Harmony Road in Slippery Rock passed away peacefully in her home after an extended illness at 11:12 p.m. Monday surrounded by her family.

She was born Oct. 2, 1924, in Butler to George John Bayer and Mabel Cliophia Deer Bayer.

She worked as a nurses aide at Orchard Manor Nursing Home, formerly known as the Oddfellows, in Grove City, for years. She also worked on the family farm raising chickens, pigs and beef cattle.

She was an excellent baker and cook and was very talented in crocheting. She made many lap robes for the elderly and donated them to various nursing homes and to the VNA. She felt it was something that God had for her to do for the residents and patients of these particular entities. She also made baby blankets and booties, including a pair of roller skate-shaped booties for one of her grandchildren.

Her family is direct descendants of the makers and founders of Bayer aspirin, which not only prolonged Eleanor's life, but the lives of countless others.

She is survived by a daughter, Ann Byard of Martins Ferry, Ohio; and a son, Daniel (Davada) Rager of Slippery Rock. Also surviving are seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Frank Bayer of Trent, Mich.; and one sister, Gretchen (Dominick) Leone of Butler.

She was preceded in death by four sisters; eight brothers; one grandson, Graham L. Miller Jr. in 1988; one great-granddaughter, Claire Jeanelle Baker in 1999; and her former husband, Oliver Carl Rager.

Because of her family's legacy of giving, Eleanor donated her body to medical science for the study of disease prevention. It is her desire that they find something to help others in the future who have health issues and challenges.

<B>RAGER</B> — Per the wishes of Eleanor Ann Rager, who died Monday, July 21, 2008, no public viewing will he held and memorial services will be private.Memorial donations may be made to Family Hospice and Palliative Care, 50 Moffett St., Pittsburgh, PA 15243 or just go and be a friend to an elderly person in a nursing home who needs someone to care.Arrangements are being handled by the <B>Anthony Musmanno Funeral Home</B>, McKees Rocks.