Obituary of Laura Jane McElfresh

Laura Jane "Lolly" McElfresh of 750 Genesee Street in Olean died Monday March 2, 2009 at the Pines Nursing Home in Olean, NY after a long illness. She was born on June 30, 1923 to Charles and Mary Ellen McDermott. On September 13, 1947 she married the late John M. "Bus" McElfresh at Sacred Hart Roman Catholic Church in Portville, NY. The marriage was performed in the garden because the groom was not a Catholic. She was a lifelong Olean resident and attended Olean Schools. She graduated from Geneseo State Teacher's College in 1945, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi sorority. She got her first job in Kauai, Hawaii at the Kekaha School where she taught from 1945 to 1946. Their ship was escorted to Hawaii by a U.S. Navy destroyer due to active hostilities. She also taught at School 3 in Olean. Lolly was very active in the Olean community. She was involved in the Camp Fire Girls, Easter Seals, the Olean Blind Association, Meals-on-Wheels, and the Olean General Hospital Auxiliary. She belonged to The Bartlett Country Club and The Wing Ski Club. She was a ski instructor at Wing Hollow, enjoyed golf, and was a fanatical tennis player. She also loved the big bands and was dangerous to be around when Glenn Miller's "A String of Pearls" was playing. In the summer of 1969, she and Bus, their two children and future son-in-law Reed Hamilton, sailed their 40 foot wooden ketch Tammy Norie from Woodbridge, England to Essex, CT, a 55 day ocean voyage. Survived Mrs. McElfresh are a daughter, Linda (Reed) Hamilton of Falmouth, MA,; a son, Earl (Michiko) McElfresh of Olean; a dearly loved sister, Joan McGuire of Olean; four granddaughters, Megan McKeon, Amy Steele, Carrie Gravel and Diana McElfresh; two grandsons, John McElfresh and Reed McElfresh; two great grandchildren, Lindsay & Gavind McKeon; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received on Friday, March 6, 2009 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM in the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. #646 E. State Street Olean. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 beginning with a prayer service in the funeral home at 9:00 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial will at 9:30 A.M. at St. John's Church the the Rev. James Vacco, OFM will celebrate. Burial will be in the St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. John's Church 931 N. Union St, Olean, NY 14760.