Elaine Eastman

Born in New York City, Elaine, along with other two brothers, Karl and Elrich, spent her early years in Georgetown, Guyana under the watchful eye of her maternal grandparents.

In 1936, Elaine and her siblings returned to New York City to live with their parents. The family settled in Harlem, living first in an apartment on Manhattan Avenue. In the mid-1940’s the family moved to 305 Convent Avenue, where Elaine lived until her passing.

After graduating from Wadleigh High School, Elaine took classes at Hunter College and joined the workforce. She went to work for New York City’s Department of Human Resources (HRA), working first at HRA’s Harlem office before moving to HRA’s main location on Church Street. She worked for HRA for over 40 years.

Elaine loved to travel. She traveled extensively, going to Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe numerous times. She also loved cruises and over the years she took cruises through the Americas, Asia and Europe. Typically, Elaine would plan a major trip to places such as Africa or Australia ever two years and on the years that she wasn’t taking a major sojourn she would travel closer to home, either throughout the United States and Canada, and often to South America, especially Guyana, where she had spent her early years. To help fund her travels Elaine took on a second job, working nights at the Post Office. She held this job for over 30 years.

Elaine was generous with her family and friends and would often invite one of her friends, her god-children or her niece to travel with her.

Elaine doted on her family. In her mother’s later years she cared for her and made sure that “Mrs. E” or “Ma”, names she lovingly used when referring to her mother, had te best of everything. She was also close to her brother Elrich and would arrange a special dinner or surprise party for him when he celebrated milestones in life.

Elaine was famous for her Christmas dinners that brought together family and friends. The house was always filled with the wonderful scent of a holiday roast in the oven and the sounds of family and friends together for the holidays. The highlight of the evening was when everyone would gather in the living room after the meal and the children would pull the gifts from under the Christmas tree and hand them out to everyone.

Elaine was also known for her special Shake and Bake Fried chicken and meat patties which she made for every picnic and boat ride.

Elaine Eastman was caring, loving and generous with those she loved. She loved with all her heart and those who she loved, loved her back.

Her passing is mourned by her many god-children, including Beverly, Jacqueline and Cedric Cholmondeley, Jr.; her close friend of nearly 80 years, Neila Cholmondeley; her only niece, Elizabeth Eastman; and the many family and friends whose lives she touched.

A Religious Ceremony will be held at Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home, 352 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128, US, on March 12, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by a Simple Gathering at Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home, 352 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128, US, on March 12, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

A Committal Service will be held at Silver Mount Cemetery, 918 Victory Blvd, New York, NY 10301, US, on March 13, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm.