Elaine Marie Friss Ferraro

April 1, 1940 - December 10, 2015

Elaine Marie Friss Ferraro, 75, of Ghent, passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Columbia Memorial Hospital. Born April 1, 1940 in Claverack NY, she was the daughter of the late Mildred and Earl Friss. She was a graduate of Hudson High School and had a talent and passion for dancing. She spent many years helping to run the family business, Ferraro Paving, that she co-owned with her husband in Hawthorne, NY. After living many years in Westchester County, she retired and moved with her husband to Columbia County. She will be remembered by her warmth, compassion, generosity, kind spirit, sense of humor, and loving devotion to her family. She was also a dedicated member of People's Bible Church, and made contributions to various charities, with a special focus on St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Surviving are her husband of 42 years, John Ferraro, three daughters DeEtta Stancari, and her husband, Frank, Lori Eitleman, and Vicky Ferraro, step daughters Sharon Cruz and Debbie Barry and four grandchildren, brothers and sisters, Robert and Gary Friss, Barbara Smith, and Kathy Miller, brother-in-law Thomas Ferraro, sister-in-laws Antoinette Rodriguez, Nancy Lauricello, Marie Hopkins, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Connie Hines and Dolores Potts, and sister-in-law Natalia Cecere. Calling hours are 4:00 to 8:00 pm Monday at the Bates & Anderson - Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home. Services will be conducted at 11:00 am Tuesday at People's Bible Church, 615 Route 23B, Claverack, NY, 12513. Burial will be in Cedar Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a special fund set up in her honor for St. Jude. Please visit http://giftfunds.stjude.org/ElaineFerraro or send a check to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital PO Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38148 and include her name in the memo.