Mrs. Eleanor Mary Waters Zyga, a resident of Deerfield for 49 years, passed away on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, with her daughter Patricia by her side. Eleanor was born in Utica on February 13, 1933, the youngest child of Theodore and Mary (Doyle) Waters. She was a graduate of Utica Catholic Academy, class of 1950, and later was employed with New York Telephone Co. On October 8, 1955, Eleanor was united in marriage with Eugene S. Zyga at St. Patrick’s Church in Utica, a loving and devoted union of 31 years, until Eugene’s death on June 21, 1986. Eleanor returned to work with NYNEX in 1979 and retired from Verizon in Syracuse in 1991. Eleanor enjoyed gardening, bird watching, reading, especially Utica history, studying different languages, was a genealogy enthusiast and loved her cat Kiera. She was a member of St. Peter's Church in North Utica but cherished the connection to Historic Old St. John’s Church in Utica where she and her family attended services for many years. Eleanor was especially proud of her Irish heritage, having traveled to Ireland numerous times with her son, Kenneth. She shared a lifelong love of art with her daughter Sharon, and a sense of adventure and love of new ideas with her daughter Kathleen. Spending time with her beloved family was most important to Eleanor as they were the joy of her life. Mrs. Zyga is survived by three daughters and one son, Patricia and Michael Leonard of Freeville, NY, Sharon Zyga Dietz of Rochester, NY, Dr. Kathleen Zyga of Canberra, Australia and Kenneth E. Zyga and his wife Andrea Call Zyga of Bar Harbor, ME; She also leaves her sister-in-law, Peggy Waters of Myrtle Beach, SC as well as many nieces and nephews. She was very appreciative of her niece and husband, Carol E. and Leo Maloney for their assistance through the years. In addition to her husband, Gene, she was predeceased by her sister, Marion Waters Jenny; brothers, Albert T. Waters, George Vincent Waters and Kenneth Waters and son-in-law, Thomas Dietz. A memorial Mass of Christian burial, to celebrate Eleanor’s life, will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Historic Old St. John’s Church in Utica. She will be laid to rest with her beloved husband, in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Whitesboro. Those wishing to make a donation in Eleanor’s name, please consider Stevens-Swan Humane Society, 5664 Horatio St., Utica, NY 13502