Elaine Noreen McNulty Dailey

Elaine Noreen McNulty Dailey passed away due to complications from a fall on Sunday, February 20, 2011 surrounded by her family at the age of 97. She was born July 6, 1913 in Yreka, California, the fourth child of country doctor Frederick Joseph McNulty and former high school teacher Helen Azalia Staples McNulty. Unfortunately, she never got to know her father, as he passed suddenly in 1914 leaving her mother to raise 4 small children on her own until 1919, when she married Rollin A. Fairchild upon his return from WWI. This union produced another child, Elaine’s surviving brother John.

In 1926, the family moved from Yreka to Berkeley so that her older brothers could attend the University of California. Elaine graduated from Berkeley High School in 1931 and then enrolled at the Children’s Hospital School of Nursing in San Francisco in 1932 where she completed her nursing degree. Her love of nursing started at the age of 5 when she “helped” her mother who had volunteered during the great flu epidemic. In 1938, Elaine made a solo trip to the Hawaiian Islands to assist her sister during the birth of her daughter. Upon her return, she continued working at Children’s Hospital and achieved her certification as a Registered Nurse in 1940. During that time, a friend arranged a blind date for her, a student from Cal who turned out to be the love of her life, Norval Eugene Dailey. She and Norval were married June 2, 1940 in Berkeley at the Women’s Club. Elaine continued working at Children’s Hospital until she became pregnant and started to show, as nurses in 1941 were not allowed to work while pregnant. Daughter Carol Elaine was born in October 1941 in San Francisco. Norval worked for the American Red Cross as a Field Supervisor and due to this the family moved frequently but ended up back in San Francisco where their second child, son Roger Fernald was born in November 1943. Elaine raised her two babies alone when Norval went to Hawaii during the last year and a half of WWII. In 1950, the family moved again to Sacramento after Norval had started working for the State of California as a Social Worker. They purchased a home on Rosita Way where Elaine became a lifetime member of the Hollywood Park PTA and started the local Airport Little League Association of Land Park. She also belonged to a local women’s club called the Hags and Bags for over 50 years.

After Norval’s passing in May 1961, Elaine’s doctor told her to get back out there and work, so she enrolled in refresher courses at City College and soon started her nursing career again at Sutter Memorial Hospital. She worked part time until 1985 when she “retired” although she kept her license active and volunteered at numerous clinics and at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento. Traveling with her friends and family around the country, attending the Children’s Hospital Alumnae Association bi-annual reunions, playing Bunco and belonging to the Silver Friendship group were some of the many activities that kept our beloved mother/grandmother strong and happy in life. Another of her favorite past-times was watching sports. She was an avid Bay Area team supporter and wouldn’t miss an A’s, Giants or 49’ers game on TV. She and a few of the ladies in her neighborhood were also King’s fans and they got together to watch the televised games for many years. Elaine was a member of the “Coffee Beans” bowling team in the Land Park Lanes Coffee Timers League until the age of 91, when health issues forced her to retire.

She sold her home in 2005 and moved in with her daughter Carol and son-in-law Rich when it was apparent that she required full time care. In 2009, she was moved into the Monterey House in Elk Grove when she began experiencing the difficult symptoms of advancing dementia/Alzheimer’s. She received the most loving care any person could hope to have while living here and had many visits from family and friends.

She is survived by her brother John Rollin Fairchild (Helen Levitt) of Mt. Hermon; cousin Ruth Staples Starkey of Tracy; daughter Carol Elaine Marques (Richard Sr.) of Sacramento; daughter-in-law Marilyn L’Ai Dailey of Santa Rosa; granddaughter Sharon Elaine Marques (Andrea Hiller) of Roseville; grandson Richard Alan Marques Jr.(Sara White) of Rocklin; grandson Scott Norcliff Dailey (Suzie Dale) of Truckee; granddaughter Tami Lynn Dailey of Santa Rosa; great-grandchildren Richard III (Alexandria House) and Brandon Marques, Matteo Hammock, Brooke and Travis Dailey, and Savannah and Stephanie White as well as numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends who loved and adored her. Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Norval Eugene Dailey; her son Roger Fernald Dailey; parents Frederick Joseph McNulty, Helen Azalia Staples McNulty Fairchild, Rollin Abraham Fairchild; brothers Frederick James McNulty, Stanley Joseph McNulty; and sister Helen Malissa McNulty Smith Johnson.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of the California Care Homes of Elk Grove, particularly the exemplary caregivers in the Monterey House and the Descargar family for the excellent care and love they gave to our mother.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 1PM at the Harry A. Nauman & Son Land Park Funeral Chapel, 4041 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento 95822. Please join us for a small reception immediately following the service. Interment at East Lawn Sacramento will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Elaine’s memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children - 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817.