Elaine (Dongelewicz) George

Elaine Dongelewicz George, November 12, 1953 - March 31, 2022

Elaine was born in Bayonne, NJ to Raymond and Jane Dongelewicz. Her father’s job relocated the family to Switzerland in 1968, and she graduated from the International School of Geneva (Ecolint) in 1971.

As a teenager, Elaine had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed spending her summers traveling and working throughout Europe. She spent one summer living in Cadaqués, Spain, where Salvador Dalí frequented the restaurant where she worked. She loved telling the story of how she missed meeting George Harrison, her favorite Beatle, by a day that summer.  

Upon returning to the US, Elaine attended the Berkeley-Claremont Secretarial School before working as a corporate administrator in New York City.  

Elaine lived in Maryland for many years, where she had her two children, Jacquie and Erik, and met and fell in love with Tony George, her partner of 34 years. After moving to their beloved Victorian home in Pennsylvania, one or two dogs were Elaine’s constant companions. First there was Frankie, then Gracie, then Harley and Rocky, and finally, Madame. 

Elaine loved deeply and stayed in touch with her extended family (most notably her many cousins) and life-long friends. She was a wonderful chef and hostess and enjoyed putting out a spread for guests; always making sure no one was hungry when they were visiting. More than anything, Elaine enjoyed being in the company of her family and friends - reminiscing, laughing, sharing her photograph collection, and listening to her favorite music.

She was an avid thrift shopper and she could get lost in a Hallmark store for hours, always on the lookout for antiques, cheesy signs, and various figurines. Elaine always presented herself with grace and style, and was known for accessorizing, especially with hats. Often, if you commented you liked one of her accessories, she would take it off and give it to you. She will be best remembered for her kindness and generosity. She was compassionate beyond measure, and would always take time to offer a kind word to anyone who needed it; she brightened the day of anyone who had the good fortune of meeting her.

Elaine is survived by her husband Anthony George of Cochranville, PA; children, Jacqueline Zeman (Matthew) of Portland, OR and Erik Hanson (Jessica) of Mt. Airy, MD; stepchildren, Elizabeth Satterfield of Stafford, VA and Anthony George, Jr. (Amy) of Albany, OR; nine grandchildren: Elliot, Caz, Ezra, Bradley, Brooks, Bennett, Raymond, Ashlyn, and Janae; siblings, Jayne Richard of Ponte Vedra, FL, John Dongelewicz of Lake City, FL, and Carol Milner of Cochranville, PA; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial garden will be planted in Elaine’s honor on July 24th at 12pm at her home in Cochranville, PA. For more information, contact jnhzeman@gmail.com.  Memorial masses will be held at Church of the Sacred Heart in Oxford, PA at 8am on August 22nd and at St. John Cantius R.C. Church in Philadelphia, PA at 8am on September 11th. 

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