Obituary of Elaine M. Foynes

Foynes, Elaine M. (née Sekelsky), 70, of Katonah, New York, passed away on September 12th. Born in Manhattan to Joseph and Catherine Sekelsky (née McShane), on October 6, 1945, Elaine and her family moved to Poughkeepsie in 1947, where she was raised. She is a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes High School, following which she enrolled at the Bellevue School of Nursing at New York University School of Medicine, graduating in 1966. After entering her chosen profession, Elaine rose to the position of Head Nurse, Male Medicine at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. For forty-eight years, Elaine has been the devoted and loving wife of John P. Foynes, with whom she moved from Manhattan to Katonah in 1973 to raise their family. A voracious reader, she has been particularly advantaged in the many Words with Friends contests she enjoyed, especially with her grandchildren. Elaine also loved her annual (and, if the weather forecast was particularly favorable, more frequent) trips to Maine, particularly Kennebunkport, from which she would always return with treasures for the family. She also enjoyed the occasional winter cruise with her dear friends, soaking up the warm sun with pleasure. Ports of call included many in the Caribbean, as well as Hawaii. Elaine has been a devoted Catholic and a forty-three-year parishioner at the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption in Katonah; a fixture at the 11:30 Sunday Mass. Christmas was particularly special at Elaine’s house, where every year she filled the living room with gifts, her guests with her delicious cookies and cakes and her loved ones’ hearts with joy. No birthday, anniversary, holiday or other special occasion ever passed without a thoughtful card or other kind remembrance from Elaine. The St. Patrick’s Day forecast for New York City would be scrutinized annually – commencing two weeks in advance – in the hope of weather that would permit her attendance at the parade. In addition to her devoted husband, Elaine is survived by her sister, Katharine Jimenez de Castro (Katonah, NY), her children, Mary Gaza (Katonah, NY), John J. Foynes (Stow, MA) and Patricia Foynes (Wappingers Falls, NY), and five beloved grandchildren, Thomas, Claire, Elizabeth, Oliver and Stanley, who will dearly miss their Nana. The family will receive visitors from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, September 15th, at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah, NY. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Friday, September 16th, at the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption, 55 Valley Road, Katonah, NY 10536. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 10 West Stevens Avenue, Hawthorne, NY 10532. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Elaine’s name to Catholic Charities of the Archdioceses of New York, Office of Development, 1011 First Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10022 or visit https://catholiccharitiesnewyork.nationbuilder.com/donate