At 91, having been a wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother,  Eloise Epstein’s remarkably generous and vibrant life was all too often shadowed by the ravages of cancer. 

Her husband, her brother, and most tragically not long ago her middle son succumbed to cancer. No mother should outlive a child. 

When in the midst of her own son’s lengthy and valiant battle, with multiple cancers her great grandson Charlie Capalbo was knocked down by a rare Lymphoma.  He was 18. 

It was shocking for her, but she maintained a warmth and steadiness as the voice of hope every morning when she checked in for “any good news?” 

“What can I do for my children?” She tried to arrange all of her waking hours, with her aide helping her,  to have at least a kiss with these two generations of kids, suffering a lot. 

As Charlie went into remission the family celebrated together, but with what stumped cancer researchers was how Charlie developed a second cancer: this time even more rare. He was admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital where his only chance for survival was a bone marrow transplant. His brother, William, was a match. Both of Eloise’s great grandsons were in the hospital in Boston at the same time. They were in quarantine. Granny Ellie couldn’t see them. 

The transplant has been successful so far.

Eloise donated her body to science because it was for her the most personally targeted donation she could make. 

Today, her hopes would be that no parent should feel as helpless as she felt watching cancer defeat the younger generations. 

Your gift in her name will complete her life cycle goal of making a difference.