Elaine Garrow

When she was a toddler, she moved with her parents and brother Roger to Portland, where her younger siblings- Carolyn and Doug- were born. They settled near relatives in Northeast Portland where Elaine spent most of her life.

She attended St. Rose School and the former Madeleine High School, where she was crowned Miss Madeleine in 1946. She then attended Marylhurst College, where she met women who would become her lifelong friends and worked toward a teaching certificate before transferring to Portland State College. While at Portland State, she began part time work at the Oregon Journal. She did some modeling for the newspaper, appearing in some ads. After her children were grown, she worked in education for Portland Public Schools at Rose City Park and Gregory Heights schools.

Elaine met Leo Garrow at a gathering of young adults, and they were married in 1949. In 1951 they began their family.

In early 1954, while expecting her third child, Elaine’s parents died in an auto accident. She and Leo welcomed her younger sister and brother Carolyn and Doug into their home. Those were trying years at times, but Elaine took on the challenge with her trademark determination and grace.

Elaine served countless hours in service to St. Rose parish, of which she took pride as longest tenured member, Central Catholic High School, which all her sons attended, and Catholic Charities. She baked for pie sales, served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and helped wherever else she was needed. She was every bit a Christian servant. She was a warm and gracious hostess. Elaine and Leo hosted countless events for family and friends both in Portland and at their second home in Arch Cape. She was always curious and interested in the world around her, drawn to those of younger generations to learn as much as she could. When she and Leo travelled, she was not interested in laying by the pool- she was determined to learn about the local people and places to understand things from different perspectives.

She also was an accomplished seamstress, having learned from her mother, and often made the clothes she wore as a young woman. In later years, she enjoyed crafting items for her grandchildren as Christmas gifts. She treated each of her children and grandchildren as individuals, never forcing her views on anyone- although she definitely had opinions!

Elaine was preceded in death by her siblings, and her beloved Leo. She is survived by her sister-in-law Judi Feller; children Daniel (Robert), Philip (Diane), Nicholas (Kerry), Peter (Pamela), John (Deborah), Mary Randazzo (Dennis), and Edward (Becki); 19 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to convey their appreciation for the caring people at Home Matters and the Providence Hospice team.

The family suggest remembrances to Catholic Charities or St. Rose.