Elaine Neiswanger

Elaine D. (Donahue) Neiswanger, 89, of South Windsor, CT, formerly of Manchester, CT, died Thursday, August 24, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital. She was the widow of Robert M. Neiswanger. Elaine was born in Rockford, IL on September 4, 1927 to the late Gilbert and Mae Donahue. She was a graduate of Muldoon Catholic Girls School and she earned her Bachelor's Degree from Rockford College and her Master's Degree from UCONN. She married Robert M. Neiswanger on August 8, 1953 and they started their life together in Connecticut, eventually residing in Manchester where they raised four children. When Elaine first came to Manchester she was an elementary school teacher and she retired as a reading consultant from Manchester Public Schools. Elaine had been involved with the Connecticut American Association of Universities, she worked on publicity for the League of Women Voters, she helped with early fund raising for Hartford Stage and she was an active member in St. Bartholomew's Parish in Manchester where she was a past president of the Guild of Our Lady and taught religious education. When she moved to South Windsor she served as a Eucharistic Minister for St. Francis of Assisi Church. Elaine had a zest for life that included her love of traveling with her husband, vacations with her family at the beach and visiting dear relatives in Rockford, IL and Muncie, IN. She also enjoyed playing couples bridge and bridge with her girlfriends, golfing, walking, shopping, attending shows at Hartford Stage and in New York City, book clubs, lunch with her friends and spending time with her children and dear grandchildren. The family would like to thank the wonderful, compassionate staff at St. Francis Hospital and her caregivers Anna Staranowicz, Marzena Alami and Anna Wilbrik from Nutmeg Home Assistants, LLC., for their dedication and support. Elaine will be sadly missed by her daughter, Joan N.Gionfriddo and her friend Dave Abbott, her son Jack G. Neiswanger and wife Phyllis, her son James M. Neiswanger and wife Carla, daughter-in-law Deborah P. Neiswanger, her grandchildren Lauren (Gionfriddo) Vieira and husband Nelson, Caitlin (Neiswanger) Barbier and husband Nick, Maeve, Margaret, Jack, Olivia and Jillian Neiswanger as well as her great grandchildren Lexi and Madelyn Barbier and Vivian Vieira. She also is survived by her nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Colleen (Donahue) Leber and her son, Thomas R. Neiswanger. Memorial calling hours are Tuesday, August 29 from 4-7 pm at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester, CT. A celebration of Elaine's life and a Mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, August 30 at 10 am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 673 Ellington Avenue, South Windsor, CT, followed by internment at East Cemetery in Manchester. People attending the Mass, are asked to please go directly to the church. Memorial Contributions can be made to: Alzheimer's Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Southington, CT 06489-1058 and American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005. To leave a message of condolence please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com

Visitation DetailsTuesday, August 29th, 2017 4:00pm - 7:00pm, Holmes Funeral Home
Service DetailsWednesday, August 30th, 2017 10:00am, St. Francis of Assisi Church
Interment DetailsEast Cemetery