Elaine C. Steinhardt, formerly of Putnam Lake, NY, died peacefully on September 29, 2024 surrounded by her family, who loved her dearly, at the age of 82.

Elaine was born March 17, 1942 in Brooklyn, NY, daughter of the late James and Valeria Lambe. She graduated from Mercy Juniorate High School in Brooklyn, NY, a Catholic school which also provided vocational guidance towards becoming a nun. Elaine was also a member of St. Brigid’s Fife and Drum Bugle Corp, where she was a majorette and marched in the New York City, St. Patrick’s Day Parade. She went on to work for La Rosa Pasta Company as a secretary in Brooklyn, NY. After moving upstate to Putnam Lake, she spent many years, working for Green Chimneys, a therapeutic and educational organization for children with special needs, in Brewster, NY where she always had a smile for her colleagues, the children, and the roaming peacocks all of whom she held close to her heart.

Although Elaine aspired to become a nun as a girl, life had other plans. Elaine married the love of her life, John A. Steinhardt on a rainy day in November at St. Brigid’s Church in Brooklyn, NY. They were married for 57 years and shared three children, eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. They loved to laugh together, enjoy the beaches of Topsail, North Carolina, and shared a devotion to the NY Mets (but only after the Brooklyn Dodgers left), that was surpassed only by their love for one another and the family they built together.

Elaine’s family was her greatest joy. Whether fundraising for the Putnam Lake little league, acting as a den mother for the Cub Scouts and Girls Scouts, or attending countless games,

dance recitals, concerts, or graduations, she gave all of herself to her children, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a loving wife and mother, a wonderful aunt, and the most loving and devoted grandmother and great-grandmother.

She loved to dance, spend time on the beach, the color red, and enjoyed her strawberry daiquiris extra-thick with extra whipped cream.

Elaine joins her beloved husband John in heaven, but is survived by her three children Jenine (David) Carlson of New Milford, CT, John (Cristina) Steinhardt of Madison, CT, and James (Emily) Steinhardt of New Milford, CT; eleven grandchildren; Amanda (Spiros) Stefanatos, Alexa (Aaron) Landolt, Lauren (Lorenzo) Stellato, Jameson Steinhardt, David Carlson and his fiancée Madeline Kabasakalian, Rachel Steinhardt, Tyler Steinhardt, Abigail Steinhardt, Alyssa Steinhardt, Alaina Steinhardt and Grayson Steinhardt; five great-grandchildren, Arianna, Ava, and Alexandra Stefanatos and Jack and Evelyn Landolt; her sister, Geraldine King; her sister-in-law, Anne Tretter and several nieces and nephews.

A wake will be held in Elaine’s honor at Beecher’s Funeral Home in Brewster, NY on Sunday, October 6, 2024 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Putnam Lake, NY on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 10 a.m. with a burial to follow at St. Lawrence O’Toole Cemetery in Brewster, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elaine’s honor to the American Lung Association (www.lung.org) and/or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (www.komen.org).