Elaine Marie Ferrand's Obituary
Elaine Marie Ferrand, former High Falls, NY resident, passed away peacefully, with family by her side, the evening of December 20, 2023, in Lewes, DE. She was 96.
Born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY on August 19, 1927, Elaine was the youngest of the four daughters of Anna M. (Keyes) and Joseph J. Dietrig.
Raised in Hollis, NY she graduated from St. Angela Hall Academy and attended St. Joseph’s College for Women. She married the first love of her life, Gerard P. Martin in 1947. They raised three daughters in Queens Village. After Gerard’s passing, Elaine married her second great love, Daniel J. Ferrand and moved to Millwood, NY with his three children.
After living part-time in High Falls, NY for two decades, Elaine and Dan joyfully retired there in the mid 1990’s to travel, hunt, fish, hike, swim, garden, cross country ski and line dance. When she was widowed again in 1997, Elaine became an active Jazzerciser, a member of the Ulster County Democrats, a volunteer at the food pantry, an advocate for senior independence through “Stay in Place” and a watercolor enthusiast. Elaine relocated to Lewes, DE in 2017 to be closer to family.
Elaine is survived by three daughters from her first marriage, Elaine Martin Petrowski (Joseph) of Georgetown, DE, Elizabeth Martin (James Overmyer) of Cortlandt Manor, NY and Denise Bojczuk, (Peter) of Milton, DE as well as four grandchildren, Carolyn Petrowski, Julie Petrowski Schwan, Alycia Overmyer and Paul Overmyer, and four great grandchildren, Andrew Schwan, Addison Schwan, William Overmyer and Grant Overmyer. She is also survived by her devoted stepdaughter Susan Ferrand and her
partner, Sandy Klepacki, Daniel Ferrand Jr. and Michael Ferrand.
There will be a service and celebration of Elaine’s long life with internment of her ashes at the Church of St. Peter, Rosendale, NY in her beloved Hudson Valley at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please remember Elaine with a donation in her honor to a charity of your choice or to a cause she supported: the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, (foodbankofhudsonvalley.org), or Emily’s List, a national group that supports Democratic, pro-choice women running for office (emilyslist.org). Her family also supports The Gift of Life, Howie’s House at (giftoflifehowieshouse.org). Or simply think of a happy memory of her.
For more information about services, please contact her family at [email protected].
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