Ellayne Elias

Celebrating a Life Well Lived :: Ellayne Elias

June 21, 1945, Lawrence, MA - December 30, 2024, Tucson, AZ

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Ellayne Elias, our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was an extraordinary woman of many talents, brightening the lives of many with her love, kindness, compassion, and humor.

Ellayne was born on June 21,1945 in Lawrence, Massachusetts on the summer solstice, the day of the year with the longest amount of light. She would spread this extra light to everyone that knew her. Ellayne was the first of four children born to Dean and Virginia Elias. Dean worked for Raytheon Corporation and Virginia was employed by Reid Meredith Corporation. They raised their children in Methuen, MA.

In 1967 Ellayne met Frank Snyder while working as a laboratory technician intern at Hale Hospital (Haverhill, MA). They would have three daughters, Laura, Sally, and Susan. Ellayne was a very active mother, making sure her girls participated in the activities they enjoyed. From dance and gymnastics classes, softball and basketball games, music and art lessons, she was there providing support for it all. She even volunteered as a Girl Scout leader for them as they were growing up.

Of the many skills Ellayne taught her daughters the most important was learning how to cook. She acquired her own prowess in the kitchen by learning from her mother and grandmother. No holiday or special occasion would go by without a feast of food including a cake or pie made from scratch. Her love of cooking propelled her to publish a cookbook in 1999 entitled "In The Kitchen With Mom" that she gave away freely to anyone that was interested in owning a copy. It contained her favorite family recipes along with recipes that she gathered from friends.

Ellayne graduated in 1968 from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, School of Public Health. She worked as a medical technologist for several hospitals throughout her career including Henry Heywood Hospital (Gardner, MA), Marlborough Hospital (Marlborough, MA), Framingham Union Hospital (Framingham, MA), and Merrimack Valley Hospital (Haverhill, MA), formerly Hale Hospital where she first embarked on her career and ultimately from where she retired. During these years she mentored many coworkers in the laboratory and gained countless lasting friendships.

Upon retiring Ellayne moved to Vail, AZ with Frank in 2010. She was an avid bird watcher and became a member of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) and the Tucson Audubon Society. Her favorite exhibits at the ASDM were the live raptor shows, especially the owls. Her bird watching adventures included visiting Madera Canyon to encounter birds that live at high altitudes. On a quest to seek out the Elegant Trogan, the bird was identified by call, but not by sight. She also traveled to Wilcox, AZ to view the Sandhill Cranes during migration and would visit Patagonia Lake to see water birds, especially enjoying the Coots. Another place Ellayne liked to visit was a bed, bird, and breakfast in Hereford, AZ owned by Tony Baptiste. Her favorite birds here were the Burrowing owls. But, the most exciting life-list bird she encountered was a Blue-footed booby! This bird, native to the eastern Pacific ocean, had flown off course and ended up in AZ. She was elated about it!

Ellayne's arts and crafts talents were endless as she enjoyed creating things by hand. She would sew clothes for her daughters when they were little, hand knit them wool sweaters and Christmas stockings with elaborate patterns, and stitch ornaments made of felt. She explored pottery, created seaweed art, and worked with pastels and charcoals to draw portraits of her children. Dot mandala painting on rocks became an obsession in her late life. But, probably the most profound art she created was her hand cast Santa figures. She called them " Santa Folk " and made them out of plaster using antique candy molds gifted to her by cousins that owned an artisan candy store named Priscilla's in Lawrence, MA. These figurines stand 3 to 12 in tall and are expertly and precisely painted with intricate details. Ellayne produced a different Santa each year and would give them away as gifts for Christmas. This tradition started in the early 1990s. There was a succession of many years producing her folk art followed by years of non-production, then a revisit later on in her life. Many family members and friends have collections of Ellayne's Santa Folk that are held dear to their hearts.

Ellayne was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2011. She decided to be part of a clinical trial to test a new medication for lymphoma patients. Subsequently, all of the patients involved in this trial would pass away, leaving Ellayne as the longest surviving person. She was able to benefit from this medication for 14 years until her own passing on December 30th, 2024.

During these bonus years Ellayne was able to enjoy her retirement, spending time with her two grandsons Sam and Zach Constantine, whom she loved immensely. She would take them to Reid Park, Sabino Canyon, and Mount Lemmon to watch birds and be outside in nature. Sadly, Zachary passed in March 2021 at the age of 12; Ellayne was devastated by his sudden death.

Ellayne leaves behind her three daughters; Laura Gisseman, Sally Constantine, and Susan Snyder, grandson Sam Constantine, siblings Ann, Dennis, and James Elias, and many loved nieces, nephews, and cousins. We shall remember her vibrant spirit, independence, and laughter. Her memory will be forever carried in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her honor to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum [https://desertmuseum.org] to reflect her compassionate nature.

May her soul and spirit be free and at eternal peace.