Lena Elaine Rodericks

She was sassy. She was always chuckling. She was, even at her most exhausted, cheerful. She disliked her first name. She went by Elaine.

She was born Aug. 6, 1949 in Christiansburg, Virginia and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, where she and Paul, high school sweethearts, met and married in 1969.

They always had dogs and they lived in a small house on Elm Road in Richmond in the ‘70s, where records always played and Paul developed the photos that captured their life together. She was a hair stylist while he, after returning from duty as a Naval typist, worked as a teacher in Chesterfield and subsequently a principal. They fostered children. They helped kids from his class whose homes weren’t as happy as their own. She was there when Paul died, and after he was gone, she was there for her children, always.

She was a friend to everyone – especially her best one, Carolyn. She loved her kids. She loved Miles. She loved the summer months. She loved the beach, and she tanned to a beautiful bronze. She loved smoking cigarettes (Cambridge Lights Kings). She read Sue Grafton and Danielle Steele. She did crosswords and watched Supermarket Sweep and drank Coca-Cola.

She was exceedingly selfless in all aspects of her life. She lived in the service of others, maybe to a fault. She did unto others as she would have others do unto her. 

And others did, when she needed them, when her memories and her abilities started to fade. Her mind and her voice may have gone but her cheer and her sass never, ever left her eyes. She still listened to music. She still danced. She was still our mom and our Sweetie and our friend.

She had a peaceful existence. She had a peaceful departure. We cannot ask for more.

Elaine would tell you, in lieu of flowers, to give to Seven Hills School, whose teachers nurtured her grandson in the same way she and Paul cared for so many kids.  A casual memorial service will be held this Saturday, February 9th at 1pm, at the Urban Roost Event Space, 3023 W Marshall St, Richmond, VA 23230, the family will accept visitors there until 4pm. Please come.

She will always be loved and remembered by her son, Jordan, and daughter Catherine; her grandson, Miles; her son-in-law, Tyler; her brother Harvey; her sisters-in-law, Judith, Ann, and Lisa; her brothers-in-law, Harold and David; her many amazing nieces and nephews; and the countless people she impacted along the way. Her family thanks the Helpful Hands of the Acadia unit at ManorCare. And to all who took a moment to read about her life, we wish you peace and joy.