Elaine Wolensky

May 4, 1945 – April 28, 2021

Elaine Wolensky, 75, long-time Head Usher at United Church of Rogers Park [UCRP], was devoted to her church family. Elaine converted to Christianity decades ago, but always kept a deep love and respect for her Jewish roots. Phone calls with friends and cousins was one of her great joys. Elaine lost her battle with cancer on April 28th .

Born and raised in Chicago with her parents, Sol and Ruth Wolensky, Elaine was a proud graduate of Jones Commercial High School. She worked for many years doing clerical work and later in life managed the Thrift Store at UCRP. When she moved to the Rogers Park community in the 1970’s, Elaine started attending United Church of Rogers Park and soon volunteered her services there in a wide variety of ways. Over the years, she assisted the Church Administrator in preparing bulletins, newsletters, and annual conference materials. She taught Sunday school, chaperoned youth outings, and helped administer vacation Bible school. Elaine trained others to be acolytes in the worship service, regularly procured the Communion elements and helped serve them. She was a formidable fundraiser, helping to run the church carnival, sell pancake breakfast tickets to support the Community Feast soup kitchen, and solicit pledgers for her participation in the annual hunger walk for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Trained at the Methodist Lay Leader Academy, Elaine created a birthday card ministry that brought joy to one and all at UCRP, as each member received a personal card from Elaine celebrating their birthday year after year. She also memorialized many church events with her photography.

Friends and family remember Elaine’s sincere and warm heart, her faithful attention to her responsibilities and to her friends’ welfare. Even when in the hospital herself, she phoned to check up on loved ones. She had a quiet sense of humor and a hearty laugh. Her favorite comedienne was Lucille Ball. She loved creating a new Halloween costume each year for her apartment building’s annual celebration. A frequent traveler on public transportation. Elaine was well known to other regular riders who valued her companionship. Elaine will be greatly missed by all her church family at UCRP, and especially by her dearest friend Karen Andrgae, and by her neighbors Rosemarie Mead and Renee Luckado. Elaine is survived by her cousins Eileen and Alan Samlan and Bill Chunowitz. Services will be held at UCRP on May 15th at 2pm.

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