(nee Stefanczyk) Passed away peacefully with family by her side on Friday, June 20, 2025 at the age of 74. Beloved wife of James for 51 years. Loving mother of Jamie (Toto) Chanthavixay. Cherished grandmother of Raya. Dear sister-in-law of Thomas Drinan, Kate (Sam) Robinson. Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Elaine is preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Mary, siblings Bob, Ron (Pat), Joyce (Neil) Glynn, and sister-in-laws Ellen (Jerry) Thorburn and Ann (Earl) Mitchell.
Elaine was a force of nature, whose enthusiasm for life was unmatched. She was a blend of fragility and force as well as grace and grit. Beginning as a teenager, Elaine faced significant heart crises, rebounding from five heart surgeries between the ages of 17 and 63. Perhaps for this reason, Elaine was always sensitive to the needs of those less fortunate than herself. Elaine had a long career in special education, retiring as an administrator from Milwaukee Public Schools in 2011. She took a four year “ break” in the late 1980’s to work in the area of domestic abuse.
For a girl who grew up on south side of Chicago (she was always proud of being a city kid), Elaine was powerfully drawn to the outdoors and nature. As a result, most family vacations with Jim (spouse) and Jamie (daughter) involved camping. It started with state parks during Jamie’s younger years, but graduated to the western national parks by the time Jamie was 11. Camping always involved a daily hike, oftentimes longer than her two family members desired, but Elaine was determined to keep her heart strong and her family healthy.
After Jamie left home, Elaine upped the stakes and planned backpacking or lake portaging trips in the Rockies and Boundary Waters. In 2005, Elaine discovered “the best camping spot ever” on the western shore of Washington Island. It was a house in need of a little updating on 300 feet of Lake Michigan shore and surrounded by a cedar forest. Elaine loved the peace, beauty and serenity it provided the past 20 years.
Elaine was a dreamer who had more ideas in a week for change or self improvement (sometimes just for Jim) than Jim has had in a lifetime. Some proved to be impractical, while others worked out well. One great idea was for our family to live in another country for a year and experience a different culture. Jim and Jamie were on board and the 1995-96 school year was spent in Quito, Ecuador. There was time for travel throughout Ecuador, as well as Peru and Bolivia. The year left the family with many memorable experiences, some a bit scary.
Elaine was a curious person with wide ranging interests. Some lasted a few years or more, while others such as yoga, meditation and exercise were life long passions. Her goal was to do whatever it took to live with her heart condition for as long as possible.
Elaine suffered a very unexpected stroke on June 6th. It was no surprise that her spirit and will to live persevered for two weeks.She was on life support and unable to speak, but she communicated with her eyes, hands and even managed to smile through her breathing tube. Elaine won over the ICU medical staff with her positive attitude and fight to continue living. It was only on her final morning, she gracefully accepted that it was time to let go. The song from “Hamilton” aptly describes the feelings of so many people, “The World Has Been Turned Upside Down.”
The family would like to thank the Froedtert medical staff who cared for Elaine in the NICU. Their compassion and competence were greatly appreciated by the family.
Visitation for Elaine will be held on Friday, July 11th from 5PM until 8PM at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home - Wauwatosa; 10121 W. North Ave. A celebration of Elaine's life will be on Saturday, July 12th at 11AM, also at the funeral home. Immediately after the service on Saturday, everyone is invited for a reception at Alioto's Restaurant; 3041 N. Mayfair Rd., Wauwatosa, WI 53222.