Elena C. Mc Kinnon

Elena Christina DeVidts Laurenes was born 8/25/1948 to Elena Albina Laurenes Bravo and Pedro DeVidts in Santiago Chile. Her mother and father later divorced and her mother married Ralph Bailey who Elena adored and always considered her real father. She also loved and adored her two step brothers, Bill and Ralph. She lived in Chile for the first 5 years, then-moved to Peru for 2 years, and then to Barcelona Spain with the family where she finished high school. After, her fathers business brought them to Woodcliff Lake, NJ and she enrolled in Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY graduating in 3 years. She worked in the international departments of Olin Corporation, Ford Motor and Letterly which was in Pearl River, NY. Deciding that these corporations at that time did not offer the upward mobility she desired she left and opened her own women’s clothing boutique in Ridgewood, NJ, naming it La Casita and ran it for 52 years until her passing. La Casita has always been known for its designer clothing apparel which is non available in the big stores or the internet. A big part of her life, she put a great deal of energy into clothing selection, customer service and satisfaction. Many would come just to experience its warm inviting environment and to get a big smile and hug.

If you knew Elena that’s what you knew. A big smile, warm greeting and a big hug. Heaven gained an angel but the world sure lost one.

Many years ago the family vacationed in the FL Keys and it became her refuge. She really considered it home and had hoped to retire there. Elena kept a camper on Knight’s Key in Marathon for years a would pop down there often to enjoy the sun, water, weather and the many friends she had made over the years. After the camper there were many visits, the last being this past Christmas. She was so happy to be there and to get to walk the 7 mile bridge, see friends and relax.

Other then her brother Bill who lives in Indiana, the rest of her family consisting of cousins and aunts live in Chile. She was able to make it back in 2019 with Dylan and Mike and was able to see them, her beloved Andes and majestic Pacific. It gave her great peace and happiness.

Elena’s father died of a heart attack at 50 and her brother Ralph in a car accident in 1981 and she always spoke about how they had been taken from us way too early. History has repeated.

Elena is survived by her one daughter Tarra, her grandson Dylan and her significant other Michael O’Neill all of whom she loved and adored to no end along with all of her cousins, aunts and their families in Chile.