Arneal Winifred "Neal" Elias

1928 - 2017

Arneal "Neal" Winifred Elias Age 89, passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at her home in San Rafael, California. Her husband of 67 years, Franklynn Arno Elias, passed away in their home just weeks before. After over six decades together, being apart even briefly was agonizing for Neal and she died of a broken heart. Their love and their life together has been beautiful and abundant, the stuff of legends. Neal was born on February 19, 1928 in Glendale, California to Waldomere Randall and Thyra Ida Hoffman. She grew up in Los Angeles. In May 1947, over Memorial Day Weekend, she met Arno, her future husband, while vacationing at Lake Arrowhead. They were inseparable and set forth on a long, wonderful life together. Neal and Arno married on May 20, 1949. She thrived as a mother and homemaker and proudly raised her six children. Their home on San Rafael Hill had a huge kitchen and a large kitchen table. Neal liked nothing more than having her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren around her. Neal was a beautiful, loving, gentle and kind woman and she will be dearly missed by her family. She leaves behind her five sons and one daughter: Frank (Nan), Steve (Debbie), Marc (Ann), Marilyn (Creighton), Jon (Sherry), and Robert; her nine grandchildren: Peter, Michael (Garianne), Sarah (Robert), Kathleen (Lara), Chris (Tiffany), Tommy, Randall, Jamey, and Elizabeth; and her five great grandchildren: Teagan, Zoey, Cole, Eleanor, and Madeline. The family will hold a private service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Lifehouse Agency, 899 Northgate Drive, Suite 500, San Rafael, CA 94903, or a charity of your choice.