[StephN]

Read below if you want a peek into the private life of our dear Elaine. Her friends made a photobook with writings, and here is one of the memories by Elaine's friend who is retired from Catholic Charities with many honors and recognition for her work:


Alice loved teaching English in Fukushima, Japan and English as a second language to her adult students at McKinley Adult School. She was creative and made learning enjoyable for her students. She was a very private person, however, so she did not want to tell the people at work about her breast cancer. She continued working until she became disabled and quit McKinley. I don't think any of her co-workers knew the reason why. That was Alice--private, independent, and wanting to do things her way. No pity, please. She was a fighter who wanted to understand her health conditions and treatments and did not just accept what the doctor said. This led her to her wonderful naturopath, Dr. Jack Burke, who worked with Alice for many years even when she could not pay him for some of the many supplements and treatments that Alice felt were what kept her alive so long. She only asked for help when she REALLY needed it. She was fiercely independent and wanted to do all she could for herself. She greatly appreciated Cindy from Project Dona doing her weekly shopping. I sometimes filled in when Cindy was sick or away, and Alice's list of vegetarian foods from Kokua Market and Down to Earth was always amazing. Alice was one of my oldest friends in Hawaii. We would go out for dinner, or take a drive as well as go shopping. Each year she wanted to celebrate "another year of survival" (as she called it). For many years, she was in a local peace group and worked on issues of peace and justice. Alice finally found good caregivers, Julia and Debbie from Heaven's Helpers. They kept her independent which was her adamant first choice. She was touched by the cards and the phone calls from her workers to check on her when she was in the hospital at the end of her life. She truly wanted to stay in her own place. She never gave up and always fought to come home when her health failed and she was hospitalized so much at the end. What a fighter, our Alice. Betty Lou Larson