Elaine Toland

Elaine Patterson Toland, 85, of Acton, formerly of Concord, died on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton. She was the beloved wife for 51 years of Robert S. Toland, who died in 2005. Born in Concord on February 7, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Harry A. Patterson and Helen Hagerty Patterson. She grew up in Concord, attended Concord Public Schools, and graduated from Concord High School in 1953. Mrs. Toland was employed by McWalter Insurance Agency for the majority of her working career. She was a longtime Concord resident before moving to Acton in 1996. She was a proud daughter and wife of Concord firefighters. She enjoyed round dancing and colonial reenactments with her husband Robert, as part of the Concord Minuteman and Shriners Aleppo Minuteman. She was affectionately known as Lainie, Mum, Grammie, Mam, and Meemie. She was also a skilled knitter and famous in her family for her knitting of Christmas stockings. One of her greatest joys was holding her grandchildren when they were babies and watching them grow up. She is survived by one son, James R. Toland and his wife Debra of Litchfield, NH, three daughters, Susan E. Toland-Horne of Maynard, MA, Rebecca M. Johnson and her husband Philip of Billerica, MA, and Bonnie M. Ciesluk and her husband Peter of Brimfield, MA, also four grandchildren, Heather R. Snaman and her husband Michael, Jennifer R. Glaude, Mark R. Horne and his wife Betsy, and Dawna E Horne, as well as twelve great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews who affectionately called her Lainie. She was predeceased by her daughter, Donna E. Nicoll, her sisters, Mary Walker, Jeanne Rushe, Helen (Honey) Patterson, and Gertrude Driscoll, and her great great granddaughter Charlotte. Elaines family will gather privately for visiting hours at Dee Funeral Home, and the celebration of her funeral Mass at Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. There will be a celebration of life at a later date. Contributions in her memory can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, P.O. Box 863765, Orlando, FL 32886, (www.lovetotherescue.org). Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Elaines online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.