Elaine Marie Senechal

Elaine Marie Senechal, age 77, born in Amesbury, MA to Raymond & Marjorie Senechal on December 9th 1946, passed away on May 31st from a rare form of cancer.

She received her Bachelor's degree from Univ of South Carolina, attended graduate studies in Marine Biology at both Florida State Univ and Cornell's Shoals Marine Laboratory, obtaining her Master's degree from Simmons College. She worked for over 30 years as an Educator, including with inner city at-risk youth at Greater Egleston High School and then at Tewksbury Memorial High School before retiring. Elaine was an environmentalist, environmental educator, watercolor artist, and poet. She loved nature and volunteered with the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge as a Plover Warden on Plum Island.

She is survived by her daughter, Heather; son, Damian and his wife Kyrstan; grandson Magnus, granddaughter Annika; Jonathan Brown; and beloved feline Mr. T. Elaine is also survived by several siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Ray Senechal.

Elaine was a benevolent force of nature in the regional art and poetry world and the first Poet Laureate of Amesbury. Co-founder/producer of the popular Boston National Poetry Month Festival, in collaboration with the Boston Public Library. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of her loved ones, her students and fellow artists, as well as those whose lives she impacted but never met. Her art & poetry were based on her experiences in the natural world and can still be viewed on website: www.lainiesenechal.com

Celebration of Life will take place at Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, MA on Sunday, June 30th 3pm-6pm.

Memorial Poetry Reading will be held at the John Greenleaf Whittier Home and Museum on Sunday, July 14th at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge www.parkerriver.org