Elinor ‘Daisy’ Crane, 91
Elinor “Daisy” Crane, of Acton, and formerly of Lincoln, passed away on November 2, 2025.
She was born in Jamaica Plain to Elinor and William Deford in August 1934. Daisy was their firstborn child and older sibling to William Deford, Jr.
In 1935, her family moved to Lincoln. Her father was in finance, hunted birds and loved his hunting dogs. Her mother “Buttons” was a champion amateur golfer, gardener, knitter, and avid bridge player.
Daisy attended elementary school in Lincoln and then went on to Acton Academy for high school and Colby Junior College. She was married in 1956 to George Goddu Crane and followed him, while he completed his junior and senior years at Bowdoin, as a “Bowdoin wife.” Following college graduation, they moved to New Jersey for George’s job and started a family. They had four children together in the town of Mountainside, New Jersey. After George passed away in 1982, she returned to New England as she had always dreamed of and started the second part of her life.
Daisy’s career mainly focused around organizing, administration and health care. She was a leader all around: She played the drum in the marching band in elementary school, was class president at Acton Academy, graduated with honors from Colby Junior College, and led the Bowdoin Wives club. Early in her career, she led parts of the administrative staff at the Boston Floating Hospital. As a young mother she headed up the PTA, worked on the board of education, organized costumes for musicals, was a deacon and grief counselor at the church and played a mean game of tennis. In later years, she was recognized for her thousands of volunteer hours at Emerson Hospital, worked backstage and was on the board of Acton Youth Theatre, enjoyed singing in many concerts with the Acton Chorus and loved her hiking groups and the great outdoors. She was generous (and vigorous) with her time and giving to people in need.
Daisy loved New England, her family, the ocean, music, Christmas, and a good chocolate chip cookie. She was not a fan of being told what to do or being overmanaged in any way. She lived with Alzheimer’s for 11 years and none of that ever changed.
She is predeceased by her husband George (1982), son David (2021), daughter Jenny (2021) and brother Bill (2023). She is survived by her daughters Sandra Billings (Steve) of Acton, Suzanne Crane (Robert) of Lexington, and seven grandchildren: Tyler, Jack, Jessica, Morgan, Russell, Anna and John.
She died peacefully in Lincoln, the place she always thought of as home.
Family and friends are invited to gather for visiting hours on Friday, November 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Acton Center. Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15, at 4 p.m. at First Parish, 4 Bedford Road, Lincoln, immediately followed by a reception. Private burial will be in Lincoln Cemetery.
Donations in Elinor Crane’s memory may be made to the Emerson Health Foundation, 133 Old Road to Nine Acre Corner, Acton, MA 01742 or online at EmersonHealth.org. All funds will be directed to the development of the new ER at Emerson, where she volunteered for over 30 years.
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Acton. To share a remembrance or offer a condolence on Daisy’s tribute page, visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
