Obituary of Elaine T Walden

Elaine Altha Thompson Walden passed peacefully at age 98 due to natural causes on February 18, 2025, at Creekstone in Fairport, NY. She is predeceased by her parents Esther and Raymond Thompson, husband William (Bill) Walden, brother-in-law George Harris, sister Jean Thompson Harris, brother-in-law Celius (Ed) Schmale, and nephew Douglas Harris.

Elaine is survived by her sister Gail Thompson Schmale; sons Andrew Walden Sr. and John (Bonnie) Walden; grandchildren Andrew Walden Jr., Kurt (Amanda) Walden, Jess Walden-Gray (Ben Gray), Chris Walden (Nathaly Sarria), Katherine (Brian) Leahy; great-grandchildren Isabelle, Wyatt, Sienna, Leon, Baby Girl Leahy expected in June 2025; nephews & nieces George (Bonnie) Harris, Peter (Sue) Harris, Laurie (Carl) Copeland, John Harris (Denine Carr), Vic (Wil) Blanchard, Priscilla (Alan) Elgersma; many great nephews and nieces.

Elaine was born November 18, 1926, in Rochester, NY, the second of three daughters to Esther and Raymond Thompson. She loved to relay fond memories of their family homes on Northview Terrace and Belcoda Drive, and their family cottage on Port Bay. Elaine attended Franklin High School and graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in sociology. It was during her time at UR that she was introduced to a handsome young Navy man named Bill Walden at a dance at Cutler Union. They both graduated from UR in 1948 and were married that July. 

Over the years, Elaine and Bill lived in many places- an apartment in the Bronx; their first home in Harbor Isle, Long Island where Andrew and John were born; a farmhouse in Canandaigua; their suburban home in Pittsford; a Greek revival home that they renovated in Pultneyville as a retirement project; and finally their townhome in Ontario, NY.  Elaine was an expert seamstress and knitter who made beautifully tailored clothes and sweaters. She made sure all of her grandchildren were outfitted with homemade mittens from Grandma.   

In her late 30s, Elaine returned to school to complete her master’s degree in elementary education at Geneseo State College. She went on to enjoy a 22-year career as a kindergarten teacher at Victor Elementary School where she guided over 600 children down the “path of knowledge”. At the time of her retirement in 1984, she was interviewed by a reporter from the Daily Messenger in Canandaigua. Elaine stated: “Children are very capable, and it is never too soon to start teaching them. All they need is praise. We should insist on quality and set high standards because the world is expecting more. Children are the key to the education of the world”. 

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, February 22 from 2-5 pm at Harloff Funeral Home, 803 South Washington Street, East Rochester, NY. Interment and Celebration of Life to be held in the Spring. 

Elaine’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Rochester Presbyterian Home Memory Care Residences at Creekstone for their loving, compassionate care for Elaine over the past year. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to support Creekstone’s memory care services:  https://www.rph.org/creekstone