Elaine Bechant

Elaine Elorza Bechant, age 71, passed away peacefully November 29, 2020 following a long battle with cancer. She was born July 25, 1949 in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph and Dorothy Elorza. Elaine had a passion for cooking. She possessed a B.S. in Nutrition, which she obtained from Buffalo University. She took great pride in her dishes and basked in the joy of tantalizing the palettes of her family and friends. She loved to entertain and made her food and drinks the highlight of many events. Elaine’s greatest contribution has been her fierce dedication to the lives of people with developmental disabilities. Elaine created a parent advocacy and support group that was instrumental in lobbying state and local agencies to provide services beyond school age for young adults with disabilities. She was a tireless advocate for all people with developmental disabilities to increase their quality of life and their acceptance within the community. Elaine is survived by her daughter, Meredith (John) Siefert; her son, Ross; their father, Neal; her grandchildren; and a multitude of wonderful, caring friends. All of these she loved and touched deeply. A celebration of her life will be held Summer 2021. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the ML4 Foundation online at ml4.org. SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST is honored to serve her family.