Eleanor Joan Richmond Silhan

Eleanor Joan Richmond Silhan, 94, died April 9, 2026, at her home in Salina, KS. She was born Dec. 29, 1931, the daughter of John Francis “Frank” Richmond and Nellie Irene (Mott) Richmond. Born in Hillsboro, KS, the middle of five children, she grew up in Marion County. Also known as “Peggy”, she moved to Salina in 1949 to attend Brown Mackie College and worked several years as a secretary at Hawthorne Elementary School. She retired from the Salina/Saline County Health Department in 1990 and later volunteered with the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank, the Volunteer Connection and Catholic Charities.

She married Florian Paul Silhan on June 9, 1952 and they celebrated 59 years of marriage before his death in 2012. They raised three children, Catherine Silhan, Janet Deneault and David Silhan.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Janet Deneault, and siblings, Virginia (Richard) Gettinger and Regina (Ed) Prothman.

She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Silhan, Salina, son, David (Barbara) Silhan,Wichita, son in law, Ronald (Debbie) Deneault, Salina, brother, Richard (Judy) Richmond, Sun City Center, FL, and, sister, Loretta (Dale) Snelling, Cedar Point, KS. She has three grandsons, Kevin (Tori) Deneault, Olathe, Nicholas (Sarah Prebola) Deneault, Berkley, MI, and Alan Deneault, Park City; and two great grandchildren, Oliver Deneault and Genevieve Deneault.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 16, 2026, at St. Mary Queen of the Universe Catholic Church, Salina. A Rosary service will be offered at 10:00 am prior to the Mass. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the St. John Nepomucene Catholic Cemetery in Pilsen, KS. 

Memorials are suggested to Catholic Charities or the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eleanor Joan Richmond Silhan, please visit our floral store.