Elaine A. Jordano

Elaine A. Jordano, 71, of 23 Dick Finn Rd, New Fairfield, CT passed away on Friday, May 21, 2021 at St. Raphael’s hospital in New Haven. She was the beloved wife of Joseph (Joe) Jordano for almost 50 years.

Elaine was born in the Bronx and was the daughter of the late Peter and Hortense Gioiella. She attended St. Francis of Rome Elementary School and was a 1967 graduate of St. Barnabas High School. Elaine received her B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Education from Hunter College, as well as a Master’s in Education from Lehman College.

Elaine began her career in education as a second grade teacher at Holy Rosary in the Bronx, then worked as a Math Specialist for the Mt. Vernon City School District before devoting her life to the care of her parents and the raising of her two children.

Throughout her life, she was a substitute teacher in Mt. Vernon, Brewster and Pawling, NY. As her children grew, she worked at the box office at Candlewood Playhouse and served as the Registrar of Voters in New Fairfield for the past 20 years. Perhaps her most iconic “job” was as the co-executive chef of “Joe & Elaine’s on Candlewood Lake", the concession stand at New Fairfield Town Park, where her $2.25 grilled cheese sandwich became legendary. She was highly involved in all of her children’s activities—both in school and out.

Anyone who knew Elaine knew that she had three passions: faith, family and feeding people. She was a faithful member of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in New Fairfield for 47 years and a daily communicant for decades. She served as president of the Lady’s Guild from 1979 to 1980, the highlight of which was attendance at Mass in Yankee Stadium celebrated by Pope St. John Paul the Great.

Memories of her constant prayers for all of her family and friends, tireless energy in being present and selflessly doing anything for all she loved, and her delicious coffee cake and eggplant parmigiana will never be forgotten. She was a constant presence in the life of her beloved husband, children and grandchildren, and a devoted daughter, mother-in-law, sister, aunt and friend.

Elaine is survived by her husband Joseph C. Jordano Sr.; her children: Jennifer Welch and her husband, Jeffrey of New Ashford, MA; and Joseph C. Jordano Jr. and his wife, Rebecca of Plymouth, MI; her beloved grandchildren: Anna, Anthony, Vincent and Maria Welch, and John Paul, Damien and Joe-Joe Jordano III; her siblings: Peter Gioiella Jr. and his wife, Domenica of Norwalk, CT, and Adelaide Rezza and her husband, Christopher of Yonkers, NY, who was like a second brother to her; her brothers and sisters-in-law: Margaret (Peggy) Jordano-Smith, Frances (Fran) and Bill Furst, and John and Carol Jordano; and her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.

Friends and family are invited to call at Green Funeral Home, Danbury, CT on Monday, May 24th, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Facial covering and social distancing protocols are required.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25th at St. Edward the Confessor Church, New Fairfield, CT.

Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Danbury, CT.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Elaine’s memory may be made to The Padre Pio Foundation of America, 463 Main St., Cromwell, CT 06416 (https://padrepio.com/) or the American Cancer Society, POB 280285, E. Hartford, CT 06108 (www.cancer.org).