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BORN
1930
DIED
2024
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Elaine Brockhouse Obituary
May 16, 1930 - June 25, 2024
Pinecrest, Florida - ELAINE COWMAN BROCKHOUSE passed away peacefully on June 25, 2024, soon after her 94th Birthday.
Elaine was born May 16, 1930, in Dallas, Texas to Vera Cadenhead Struble and Forest Cowman. She attended high school at Our Lady of the Lake. Afterward, Elaine began college at SMU and graduated from Wellesley where she formed many lifelong friendships.
Following graduation, she moved to New York City where she attended Katherine Gibbs College. While in NYC, she met and fell in love with her husband, Richard Brockhouse, a charming and accomplished Naval Commander. In 1954, they wed in the SMU Cox Chapel. After starting a family in Long Beach, California, they moved to Miami, Florida in 1958.
Beloved by her family and friends, Elaine is preceded in death by her late husband Richard, her son Keith and half-sister Mary Lou Pendergrass. She is survived by half-brother Robert Cowman, her son Bruce Brockhouse, daughter Lisa Boalt, nine grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
Elaine selflessly devoted her time to several wonderful organizations including the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), National Society of the Colonial Dames (NSCDA), Young Patronesses of the Opera (Florida Grand Opera), Beaux Arts, and P.E.O. International, a women's education organization. Elaine was a member of the Miami Wellesley Club along with Marjory Stone Douglas and was present at the White House when Marjory received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Elaine and her husband were founders of the USS Lyman K Swenson, DD-927, Sailor's Association.
She was passionate about volunteering at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden and the Lowe Art Museum. She loved to spend quality time with her family and friends at home. A prolific traveler, Elaine visited all seven continents where she loved visiting educational institutions and museums.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church on July 20th at 1:00 p.m. With her loved ones, she will be interned at the Mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in a private family service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elaine's memory to P.E.O. Chapter AO Florida.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Elaine Brockhouse
Irene & Terry Richards
July 19, 2024
Sending loving prayers to Elaine´s family and friends. She was a wonderful woman with a love of history, world travel, service, America, her family and her Lord.
John and Chris Little
July 18, 2024
We are profoundly saddened by Elaine's passing. John and I cherish fond memories of your mother, particularly her vibrant delight in life's pleasures.
Kitty Koch Espinosa
July 13, 2024
Bruce, I am so very sorry for the loss of your mother. She was a lovely lady and obviously very intelligent, engaged and loving.
Karen Throckmorton
July 13, 2024
Elaine was a brilliant, beautiful and kind person of strong faith. Treasured her children and grandchildren. Had a dear sense of humor. Loyal. Fun.
Steadfast in her beliefs. Her annual Christmas letter with stories and pictures of her travels was a delight. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Gary Adams
July 10, 2024
Many fond memories of Elaine and the Brockhouse family. She was a selfless prayer warrior for Christ who loved her family and friends. Part of a special group of ladies at Galloway OPC.
Beppina Azrak
July 10, 2024
I was privileged to have met Elaine and receive so much of her knowledge about the opera and her wide versatility of knowledge.
God bless you, and you will never be forgotten. Will always remember you with YPO.
Linda Corey
July 10, 2024
Sending to the family many thoughts and prayers
Cynthia McNeill
July 10, 2024
Lisa, Bruce and all the grandchildren of Elaine's, the McNeill family sends our condolences. Elaine was a wonderful friend to our mother and fellow sister in Christ at Bible Study Fellowship. Your family is in our prayers.
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Van Orsdel Funeral & Cremation Services - Kendall11220 N. Kendall Drive, Miami, FL 33176
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