Elaine M. Carpenter

On April 8, 1963, a precious little girl was born in Norwich, NY to a very young mother. This mother chose life for her baby and allowed her to be put into the arms of a loving couple who were overjoyed to welcome Elaine Marie Carpenter into our family. Sadly for us, after a six-month struggle with cancer in Lancaster, PA, on October 30, 2019, Elaine journeyed out of this life, at the age of 56, and into Glory. Elaine made her way in this world with laughter, music, enthusiasm, and drama. If there was something humorous going on, Elaine was sure to be found in the middle of it and enjoying herself immensely. She had a talent for drawing people into her world and the gifted ability to speak the right words of encouragement to others when they were needed most. Her sense of humor, passion, and energy have endeared her not only to her family, but also to a host of lifelong friends.

As much fun as she had with her friends, she took even more delight in being the self-proclaimed “Favorite Aunt” to her many nieces and nephews, often declaring this status before they were even born! As time went on, she began to embellish the position with a new title of “Auntie Ma” and did not reserve the title for family only, but adopted it to the children of her close friends as well. Her generosity and love touched many and she will be sorely missed. The entire time with this illness, she sought to comfort and minister to those of us who had gathered around her. With many tears and “I Love You’s” we watched her spirit grow stronger as her body grew weaker. Elaine had invited Jesus Christ into her heart around the age of six and continued in this, her most important relationship, with God for the next 50 years. She has accomplished many things that have made us proud of her, but if you had asked her last week, she would tell you that knowing God is by far the most important of them, and that relationship with God is why we know she is in his loving arms today.

Elaine is survived by her parents Claude and Harriett Carpenter, her brothers David (Pattie) Carpenter, and Wayne (Cathy) Carpenter, and a sister, Laurie (Richard) Kuss. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Jonathan Carpenter (Sandy Scott), in 2018, and her nephew, Timothy Annesi Jr., in March 2019. And of the young mother who we are so grateful to…. Elaine was able to connect with her birth family in her adult life and found out that she had a half-sister, Karla Vollrath, and a half-brother, Michael (Michelle) Vollrath, each of whom survives. Elaine was predeceased by their birth mom, Violet Vollrath.

A private graveside service for Elaine, and interment, was held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at the North Norwich Cemetery, where Elaine’s life-long friend, Rev. Scott Davis, officiated. There will also be a celebration of Elaine’s life at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15, 2019, at the Central Manor Church of God, 387 Penn St., Washington Boro, PA 17582, where Rev. Davis will also officiate. With much devotion she has loved us well and we will miss her. Love you Lainey! Until we meet again!