Elaine Marie Ferrand, volunteer, watercolor enthusiast
Elaine Marie Ferrand, 96, a former High Falls, N.Y. resident, passed away peacefully with family by her side the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, in Lewes.
Born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, N.Y., Aug. 19, 1927, Elaine was the youngest of the four daughters of Anna M. (Keyes) and Joseph J. Dietrig.
Raised in Hollis, N.Y., she graduated from St. Angela Hall Academy and attended St. Joseph’s College for Women. She married the first love of her life, Gerard P. Martin, in 1947. They raised three daughters in Queens Village. After Gerard’s passing, Elaine married her second great love, Daniel J. Ferrand, and moved to Millwood, N.Y., with his three children.
After living part time in High Falls, N.Y., for two decades, Elaine and Dan joyfully retired there in the mid-1990s to travel, hunt, fish, hike, swim, garden, cross-country ski and line dance. When she was widowed again in 1997, Elaine became an active jazzerciser, a member of Ulster County Democrats, a volunteer at the food pantry, an advocate for senior independence through Stay in Place, and a watercolor enthusiast. Elaine relocated to Lewes in 2017 to be closer to family.
Elaine is survived by three daughters from her first marriage, Elaine Martin Petrowski (Joseph) of Georgetown, Elizabeth Martin (James Overmyer) of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., and Denise Bojczuk (Peter) of Milton; as well as four grandchildren, Carolyn Petrowski, Julie Petrowski Schwan, Alycia Overmyer and Paul Overmyer; and four great-grandchildren, Andrew Schwan, Addison Schwan, William Overmyer and Grant Overmyer. She is also survived by her devoted stepdaughter, Susan Ferrand, her partner Sandy Klepacki, Daniel Ferrand Jr. and Michael Ferrand.
There will be a service and celebration of Elaine’s long life with interment of her ashes at the Church of St. Peter, Rosendale, N.Y., in her beloved Hudson Valley, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, remember Elaine with a donation in her honor to a charity of choice, or to a cause she supported: Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, foodbankofhudsonvalley.org; Emily’s List, a national group that supports Democratic, pro-choice women running for office, emilyslist.org; Gift of Life Howie’s House, giftoflifehowieshouse.org; or simply think of a happy memory of her.
For more information about services, contact her family at petrowski.elaine@gmail.com.
