Sinton - Eleanor Beauchamp Harren, founder of Aunt Aggie De's Pralines, died on October 5, 2024 in her home in Sinton, Texas. She was 92.

Eleanor was born on July 3, 1932 in San Angelo, Texas to Ruth Mary (Bivin) and George Clifford Beauchamp. Although she lived in other towns during early childhood, the vast majority of her formative years were in Sinton surrounded by her four older siblings in a family she adored. She grew up in the Sinton Presbyterian Church and graduated from Sinton High School (1949). 

Eleanor attended Trinity University in San Antonio, where she studied Christian Education. It was at Trinity where she met the love of her life, Henry Franklin Harren, Jr., during her first year of college. Henry continued to court her long distance from Tulane University Medical School while she continued her studies at Trinity. On May 30, 1952, Eleanor and Henry married in the Sinton Presbyterian Church. They honeymooned in Monterrey, Mexico before returning to New Orleans for Henry to complete his medical degree.

Once they were blessed with children, Eleanor stopped working outside the home and became an amazing mother, homemaker and cook. As the wife of an Air Force flight surgeon, she had the opportunity to set up many homes in diverse environments before she and Henry returned to Texas for him to go into private practice. They initially lived in Weslaco, Texas before moving permanently back to Sinton in 1962. 

Eleanor and Henry were active members of their community. They raised their three children, Frank, Anne and Amy, with great love while creating their own life-long friends. Eleanor was an active member of Sinton Presbyterian, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was involved in her children's school activities and created a home at which all her kids' friends wanted to spend time. There was always something good cooking and an atmosphere of acceptance that made being there feel like a warm embrace. 

But children grow up and create lives of their own, and Eleanor found herself with too much time on her hands while Henry enjoyed his work. She began using the skills she had developed as a wife and mother to start Eleanor Harren Catering and catered everything from bank lunches to lavish weddings. No matter what she catered, her creamy pralines made with her Aunt Aggie De's recipe were always requested. Finally, on her 55th birthday in 1987, she began Aunt Aggie De's Pralines with a batch of the delicious, hand-wrapped candies made and delivered herself to Corpus Christi stores and restaurants. She told business owners that if they couldn't sell them, they could just eat them, so there was nothing to lose. All reordered and, by word of mouth and Eleanor's marketing skills, Aunt Aggie De's Pralines, at its height, eventually reached annual sales of 2 million pralines worldwide. 

Eleanor was sole owner of Aunt Aggie De's Pralines until she sold the business at the age of 89 to two amazing women whom she trusted to continue to produce the quality candy and service she always demanded of herself. During the time that Eleanor was owner, her pralines appeared at stores such as Walgreens, Neiman Marcus, and Williams Sonoma as well as at grocery stores including Whole Foods and at numerous restaurants. Although the wholesale side of the business was the mainstay, Eleanor opened a beautiful retail store in Sinton graced by Agnes, the world's largest squirrel. Eleanor loved giving parties for her community at the store, especially at Christmas and in the spring. Aunt Aggie De's pralines have become a holiday tradition for so many families. And growing the brand from an idea into an industry was a great source of pride and achievement for Eleanor.

But Eleanor was so much more than an entrepreneur. She was a devoted wife to Henry. He was her favorite person and they had a beautiful romance until he passed in 1995. They loved to travel, dance, and just spend time together and with their dear friends. Eleanor was a generous mother to Frank, Anne, and Amy as they grew to adulthood, and she provided a safe and beautiful environment in which they could grow into themselves. She was also an amazing grandmother, taking her grandchildren on fabulous trips to Washington, D.C., New York City, and spring training in Florida and Arizona, as well as helping to pay for their education. But it was the everyday moments that made her such a special grandma — or "Cookie" to her grandchildren, who knew they could always count on her unconditional love and support in good times and in bad. So too, Eleanor was a loving daughter, sister and friend. She took care of those whom she loved when they were ill or hurting and celebrated with them when they were happy. She was a role model of strength, wisdom and beauty to so many. She will be dearly missed by all.

In 2018, Eleanor suffered a major stroke and was left with damage to the part of the brain that processes information as well as with stroke-induced dementia. Her family is so grateful to her doctors, nurses, caregivers, and hospice workers, who tried to give her the best days possible under very difficult circumstances. 

Eleanor is survived by her daughters, Anne Walls (Jim) of Austin and Amy Harren of Great Barrington, MA; her grandchildren, Zachary Walls (Nicole) of Raleigh, NC, Christopher Harren (Kelli) of Houston, Jake Walls (Kim) of Austin, Franklin Villarreal of Las Vegas and Alexandra Villarreal (John) of San Antonio. Eleanor also had ten beautiful great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Henry; her four siblings; her son, Frank Harren; and her son-in-law, Carlos Villarreal.

Eleanor's life will be celebrated at Sinton Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 12 at noon after a private burial service per her request. In lieu of flowers, Eleanor requested that any memorial donations be made to either Metro Ministries of Corpus Christi, Sinton Presbyterian Church, M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, or the Arthritis Foundation.

Guestbook available online at www.resthavenfunerals.com

Arrangements and care entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home, Sinton.