Obituary of Lena I Elder
Lena Elder, 94, longtime Dover and Rockaway Township resident, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at Laurel Run in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Visitation will be 2:00-6:00 p.m. Sunday, February 25th at Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph, New Jersey. A Funeral Mass honoring Mrs. Elder will be 11 a.m. Monday, February 26th at St. Clement Pope and Martyr Church, Rockaway Township / Dover,
Lena Elder was born March 11, 1923 to Louis and Incornata Gagliardi in Dover, New Jersey. She attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Dover High School.
In 1947 she married George Elder in Dover and they were together 34 years. They moved to Birchwood Village in 1957 where they raised five children. Lena had twelve grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
Lena worked for the United States Postal Services for over twenty years serving on the Service’s Credit Union Board and the Executive Board of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. She was an active member of the Rockaway Township Seniors, serving as President of the Seniors Citizens South for five years. She volunteered at the St. Clare’s Hospital Gift Shop, St. Clement Church, Morris Knolls High School, Meals on Wheels and the Partnership for Persons with Disabilities. In 1999, Mrs. Elder was recognized by the Mayor and Council of Rockaway Township as Citizen of the Year for her volunteer activities.
Lena is remembered for her perseverance, and especially for her joyful engagement with people and her delight in finding entertaining activities for family and friends.
Mrs. Elder’s husband, George Elder, died in 1982. Lena is survived by her sister, Eleanore Canfield of Dover, and her children: Bill Elder (Susan) of Columbia, Missouri, Donna Gunther (Bob) of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Rosann Powell (Bill) of Amityville, New York, George Elder Jr. (Lori) of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Jim Elder (Gloria) of Wharton.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in her memory to:
Heartland Hospice
1200 Walnut Bottom Road
Suite 302
Carlisle, PA 17015
Phone: 973 366-7400