Elaine Mary Arace

Elaine Mary Arace passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones in New York City on July 2, 2026. She was born in Durham, North Carolina to Dr. Ralph and Alma Brancaccio, who raised Elaine and her two younger brothers in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. After attending Manhattanville College, she went on to earn her Masters in Education at Harvard University. For over 30 years, Elaine taught History in both public and private schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan, earning the admiration and respect of her students and colleagues. She was devoted to her beloved husband, August Arace, until his passing in recent years. They resided on Park Avenue together for many years, spending weekends in Southampton where she had summered as a child. Elaine was a smart, sharp-witted, and well-dressed woman who was always eager to lend a helping hand. She was an avid and consummate shopper who loved Bloomingdale's and deeply mourned the closing of Loehmann’s. Also a lover of art, theatre, and the opera, she routinely frequented the many cultural institutions available to her. Her kind and generous nature attracted many close and devoted friends, and she was an active member of many social organizations, including the Cosmopolitan Club and the Harvard Club. Passionate about gardens and floral arrangements, she also loved dedicating her time to the City Gardens Club of New York City, the Southampton Garden Club, and the Southampton Rose Society. Elaine is survived by her step-daughter, Jill, her brothers, Ronald and William, her two nieces and two nephews. Services will be held at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer at 10am on Thursday, July 16, 2026.