Elaine M. Carrano
Shelburne, Vermont

Elaine Miriam Carrano, 94, a resident of Shelburne, Vermont, passed away on September 26, 2021 at the Residence at Shelburne Bay surrounded by her loving children. Elaine was born in China, Maine in the same house that her mother was born in, on November 12, 1926. She was the daughter of Harold Craig and Edwina (Colley) Craig. She attended schools in China and Bridgeton Maine, and graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Biology. Elaine was employed by Pan Am airlines as a lab technician analyzing tropical diseases before getting married and raising three children. The family moved to Vermont in 1966 after many years of weekend commuting to Vermont for skiing at Bromley, Stratton and Magic Mountains.  Once in Vermont full-time, Elaine worked in Real Estate for 33 years and retired from Lang Real Estate after 20 years there. 

Elaine was passionate about downhill skiing (which she did until her 80’s) and hosting family ski trips all over the north east for many years. She also loved sailing, Maine beach trips with the whole family, playing Scrabble (she was a Wiz), and parties with her closest friends and family.

Elaine is survived by her son Gregory Carrano and his wife Cindy of Williston, Vermont; her daughter Cindy Hayford and her husband Buddy of Wilmington, Vermont; her grandchildren Kate Hayford  and her fiancé Joseph Aiello of Quincy MA; Scott Hayford and his girlfriend Erin Philipson of Rochester NY; Kasey Kilburn and his wife Mindy of Williston, Vermont; Trever Kilburn and his wife Emily of Farmington, Connecticut; her great grandchildren Reese and Stihl Kilburn; Jackson and Rhett Kilburn; sister-in-law Carol Craig; sister-in-law Dee Carrano; many nieces and nephews; and some very special friends. She was preceded in death by her former husband Ramon Carrano; her son Clifford Carrano; her brother Maynard Craig; her sister in-law Caroline Craig; her brother in-law Michael Carrano; her sister in-law Martha Mirabella & her husband Charles; and special friends Dean Stevens and Rudy Hirss.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Residence at Shelburne Bay for such amazing care of Elaine.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 1:00pm-4:00pm at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, 1 College St, Burlington, VT. Please RSVP to chayford.dvcp@gmail.com if planning to attend.

In lieu of flowers, if friends desire, memorial gifts in Elaine’s memory may be made to the Old School Community Center, P.O. Box 204, Wilmington Vermont; the Vermont Food Bank, 33 Parker Road, Barre, Vermont 05641; or Vermont PBS.

To send the family personal condolences please visit giffordfuneralhome.com.

The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Gifford Funeral Home, 22 Depot Street, Richmond, VT.