Elaine J Hlawek

82, of Tempe, AZ, passed away peacefully at her home on July 9, 2013 with her loving husband of 58 years and family by her side. She was born in Upland, PA on July 23, 1930 and moved to Claymont, DE as a young child. She graduated from Claymont High School in 1948 and went to work as an Executive Secretary for the DuPont Company until she married the love of her life, Bob, in 1955, immediately following his graduation from The United States Naval Academy. This is when the adventures began for both of them. The next 20 years were spent traveling the country with her husband, a pilot in the USAF. Together they moved across the United States 15 times, making lifelong friends along the way before settling in Tempe, AZ in 1978. Her love of travel enabled her to visit each of the 50 states as well as numerous foreign countries. Her specialty in attracting quality people into her life provided her with friends across the States and around the world with enduring and meaningful relationships throughout her life. When she and Bob moved to Tempe, AZ they were introduced to the Tempe Sister City program by some dear friends and immediately became active volunteers for the next three decades with Elaine working on numerous Oktoberfest fundraising activities. She later became the coordinator of Tempe’s Sister City of Hutt City, New Zealand. She was a loyal Hackett House volunteer and served as crafts coordinator and day chairman. She also wrote the Tempe Sister City Newsletter for many years and served as historian. The organization’s goal of bringing world peace, love and understanding to friends around the world were in keeping with Elaine’s true spirit. She was known for leading groups of friends, new and old in a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne” at Sister City gatherings both at home and abroad. Elaine truly believed there were no strangers, just friends she hadn’t yet met. While she was a wonderful friend and confidant, her most important roles were as wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She had a gentle, kind and caring nature and constantly amazed her children and grandchildren with her pearls of wisdom. Even as her time with her family drew short she continued to listen intently and offer life advice in her sweet and loving way. This is not to say everything was always serious. She definitely had a humorous side that was evident in her sly wit. Her “zingers” would come at times that may have seemed questionable when in reality they were delivered with perfection. She was preceded in death by her parents, Winfred and Eleanore Jones and her sisters, Doris Jones and Diane Evans as well as her daughter, Diane Harris. She is survived by her husband, Robert Allen Hlawek, her children, Robert Allen Hlawek, Jr. (Jayne), Leslie Jirovec (Kent), Andy Hlawek (Beccy), Laurie Haas (William), siblings, Richard Jones (Paula), Walter Jones (Shirley), Robert Jones (Julia), Elizabeth Stenta as well as her 13 grandchildren, Karee Jimerson, Michelle LaBrosse, Katie Belken, Alexandra Haas, Amanda Haas, Ryan Hlawek, Hayley Haas, Robert Hlawek III, Rachel Hlawek, Stephanie Hlawek, Bradley Jirovec, Jeffrey Jirovec and Abby Haas as well as two great grandchildren, Khristian and Marlie and many nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by her husband, family and friends who are now faced with the fact that their angel on Earth is now in Heaven. Services will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 11:00am at The Church of the Epiphany, 2222 S. Price Rd., Tempe, AZ 85282. Donations may be made to Arizona Kidney Foundation or Tempe Sister City in Elaine’s name. The family wishes to thank the staff at Banner Desert Medical Center, Fresenius Renal Medical Group as well as the nurses and staff with Hospice of the Valley for their caring support during this most difficult time. Carr-Tenney Mortuary, 2621 S. Rural Rd., Tempe, AZ 85282 assisted the family with final arrangements. Please visit www.carrtenneymortuary.com to leave the family online condolence messages.