Elaine Hancock: My Perfect Godmother Died Last Night

Elaine Hancock, my beautiful, sweet, and loving godmother, died last night. She was a gentle and kind lady who always went out of her way to believe the best about other people. She honestly prayed for people to accomplish great things and to overcome great obstacles. If she had her way, everyone would win and everyone would care about other people. She was an ally to those who needed someone to care. 

Her life was not problem free, but she never allowed her problems to change how she felt about love, her family, or God. She was as steadfast in her love for her family and friends as she was devoted to God. She loved Christian fellowship whether it was a gathering for a special event or being the church mom at Loren's church in Larchmont. She never condemned people for having problems. She didn't talk bad about people. She shed tears and prayed for them.

My god-family lived in an east side neighborhood with a lot of children. She lived next door to Mary Lou Clark. There were Jack and Pat Addy and Uncle Rudy and Auntie Dot who lived up the hill and closer to the school. If you went up the hill across from the park, you would pass the homes of the Bradner's, the Keily's, and the Denny's. Womack, Rukke, Hyder, Gamache, Colbo, and Babbit were the family names heading the other way. She helped take care of Mrs. Barcha who lived across the street. There were a lot of neighbors with a lot of children, and she was one of the neighborhood moms that they all knew they could count upon when she was needed.

Her contribution to the neighborhood children were Steve, Lori, Tim, and Shari. Tim died not too long ago. Her other three children and their children survive her.

She and I have the same birthday. Mom would make my favorite meal, pork chops cooked in cream corn, and Elaine delighted in joining us so that we could celebrate our birthday with our favorite meal that Mom made! She and I shared our birthday, and now she and Dad share the date they both went to Heaven. 

One of my favorite memories of her was the time Dad and I stopped by on one of our routes. Steve's hotrod Mustang was on a jack stand exposing the axle that had been sheared off due to the wheel not being able to keep up with the torque of the engine. Loren, Dad, and I were impressed with how powerful the engine Steve built was to do that. Elaine interjected, "Oh Loren, Steve told me that he wasn't spinning the tires." 

She would often say, "Oh Loren!" It might be for him talking about the time he brought her home from a date with his pants on inside-out, but it might also be for him embellishing a story to make it more interesting. It was never said disparagingly. She never stopped Loren from telling his stories. She loved him and supported him throughout their lives together. 

She loved us all, but we are the ones who will miss her. She is rejoicing in Heaven as her reward for accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as her savior. 

That is what she believed would be the case today, and, honestly, I find it comforting to envision today being that joyous occasion Loren so often talked about when someone we love dies. She will always be the perfect godmother in my eyes!