Elaine Louise Faulkner, a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.

Elaine loved cats, fashion (especially big hats, silk scarves, incredible eyeglasses, and fabulous coats), travel, the color pink, and above all, literature. Shakespeare, Dickens, and Agatha Christie always populated her bookshelves, reflecting both her intellect and her lifelong love of reading.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from St. John's University and later received a Master's degree in Library Science from New York University. She spent much her career working for PriceWaterhousCoopers. A proud member of Mensa, Elaine was deeply intellectual, endlessly curious, and happiest when surrounded by ideas, stories, and conversation.

You would never have found Elaine hiking in the great outdoors, and she could not keep a houseplant alive to save her life, but show her a city and she was completely at home. She spent much of her adult life in Greenwich Village, where she loved the energy and pulse of city life. Time in Tokyo, Paris, and London were often reflected upon with great fondness. A true gourmand, Elaine created beautiful meals in her kitchen and was always happiest sharing them with the people she loved. You could count on her to have kitchen tools that you'd never heard of, and to actually use them all. There was also never a cookie she would turn down.

Elaine was generous with her time and deeply thoughtful in the ways she cared for others. She was an extraordinary gift giver — anyone who knew her likely received something truly spectacular they never knew they needed, along with something wonderfully bizarre that left them scratching their head.

Her family is forever grateful for the compassionate care Elaine received over the past few years at Sunrise of Crestwood and later at Waterview Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. She felt loved, safe, and cared for by the people in both communities.

We ask if you are reading this, that you eat a cookie in her honor—"the best food group"—and put on a little pink. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association