- Date Of Death: June 22, 2008
- State: New Jersey
Elaine McGrath, beloved mother of Marguerite (Stanley) Hansell, Kathleen (Vito) Pennisi and Carol (Michael) Kovacs passed into God’s loving and eternal care on June 22, at home surrounded by her family. She would have been 87 on June 30th. Born in New York City, she lived in Burlington for most of her adult life.
She was predeceased by her husband Joseph McGrath and her great granddaughter Gia Hansell. Elaine’s extended family includes her brother John Faubion (Maureen); 10 grandchildren: Michael (Mary) Hansell, Christopher Hansell, Stephan Hansell, Andrea (John) Herbert, Matthew (Tracy) Pennisi, Maria (Brian) Pennisi-Donnelly, Monica (Marc) Marsico, Melanie (Richard) Kleindienst, Michelle (Eric) Schultz, Catherine (Chancellor) VanSciver; 16 great grandchildren: (Kerri Hansell, Michael Hansell, Joseph Hansell, Steven Hansell, John Herbert, III, Jenna Herbert, Jake Herbert, Nicholas Lyle-Olsen, Luke Pennisi, Siena Marsico, Savanna Marsico, Jaime Kleindenst, Cole Kleindienst, Maxwell Schultz, Henry Schultz, & Rose VanSciver; and one great, great grandchild Alana Craig. Despite having left school for marriage at an early age, she earned her GED and an Associate’s Degree from Burlington County College.
She later became a substitute teacher for several school districts and a teacher’s aide for Mount Holly township school district. She worked as a special officer with the Edgewater Police department and as a dispatcher with the Burlington Township Police department. She was president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police in the late fifties. She did volunteer work as the committee chairperson for the Juvenile Conference Committee in Burlington Township for more than 20 years. She was a lifetime member of the Eastern Star of the Burlington Chapter #276 of the Masonic Lodge. She owned and operated “The Coterie”, a small soup & sandwich shop in Burlington City which was famous for its homemade soups. Elaine enjoyed a full and rich life. She traveled extensively with her family, and until recently, had vacationed in Las Vegas every year since the mid sixties.
Elaine was a caring person who loved animals and volunteered for the Animal Welfare in Burlington County before the formal county operations came into being. She rescued many dogs and cats from abusive and abandoned homes. Elaine loved life, people and laughter.
