Elaine Ruth Samuels

It is with the deepest sadness do we announce that our mother, Elaine Samuels, slipped away peacefully at 1pm on Thursday, January 28, 2021 having prayed with a chaplain and while holding hands with her hospice nurse in Yorba Linda, Calif. This loss, although expected, caused a profound sense of grief among us all.
Elaine (Mom) was born to George and Ida Pett on April 13, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois where she was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Her parents moved their family to a newly-built suburban home in the town of Northlake, Illinois.  It was at a relative’s wedding reception that mom first met her future husband, Frederic (Dad), also a Lutheran. They were both smitten and the romance began. On the following day, Dad drove to Northlake without having Mom’s address to try and find her. HE Did! Mom was indeed surprised. They began dating immediately until the war years arrived. Dad departed for pilot training with the Army Air Corps in 1942. During the year that followed Mom travelled to his training base in Santa Ana, California to visit him. Thus began their love for the California climate.

On October 22, 1944 they were married and several Air Corps friends attended. Two weeks later during a final training flight near Dyersburg, Tennessee, Dad’s B-17 bomber exploded and crashed. Of the crew of eleven onboard only 2 survived. One was Dad! Mom rushed to his side and helped to nurse him to recovery for more than a year at an Army Base in Springfield, Missouri. They lived off-base in a small rooming house. Eventually Dad was discharged to reserve status and the happy couple returned to Dad’s hometown of Oak Park, Illinois. They were able to move into a government-built duplex dwelling in Oak Park. Their church home became Christ Lutheran Church in Oak Park.

During the next eight years their happy marriage was punctuated first by my Dad’s new job with the Illinois Bell Telephone Company. Then over time, three new babies were born:  Wayne (in 1946), Dale (in 1948), and Lynn Ellen (in 1954).  All three children were baptized into the Lord’s kingdom at Christ Church.
Over the next few years, Mom and Dad, longing for a better climate in which to live, took their family on a road trip to Southern California in 1954. They chose the San Fernando Valley as a good place to live. They repeated this road trip in 1955 to focus on the real estate potential and a new Church home. Dad obtained a transfer to the Pacific Bell Telephone Company.  They quickly packed their belongings and began their road trip west on the night of December 31, 1955. A Happy New Year indeed!

In a few days they completed their road trip to North Hollywood, California and rented a small 2-bedroom apartment there. The nearest Lutheran Church was a mere two blocks from the apartment.  Mom and Dad became members of Saint Paul’s First Lutheran Church, and Mom enrolled Wayne and Dale in their Christian Day School. After eight months of house shopping, they moved into their first home at 4847 Clybourn Avenue. Life was good. Throughout the next three decades they enjoyed many birthdays together, Christian confirmations, graduations, military enlistments of their sons, weddings, and so on. However, after some safety concerns, they moved to Littleton, Colorado where they built a large home in a delightful community near Dale & Beth and family. It was there that they found Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood.  Many happy years followed. Unfortunately, Dad’s poor health led to his passing in 2007. Mom soldiered on for several years alone until her health and her desire to live near family prompted the sale of her Colorado home. She sold the home in 2015.

Both Wayne and Lynn Ellen assisted her for the move to Yorba Linda, California. Lynn Ellen has her home there. A beautiful townhome nearby was to be Mom’s new residence. However, after a while Mom’s declining health required her to move to an assisted living environment. Mom was quite happy there. Beginning in mid-2020, it became clear that Mom required more assistance. She was then assigned to the Memory Care unit and received the care she needed. She became comfortable there and the level of care she received was excellent. Sadly, after a number of days under hospice care, she passed away there peacefully while her caregivers were close to her.
Mom is survived by her large family:
Wayne and Bonnie produced two granddaughters. Jennifer and Kevin produced two great-grandchildren: Madison(12) and Mason(8). Elizabeth and Eric produced three great-grandchildren: Carter(13), Quinn(10), and Ella(5).
Dale and Beth produced two grandsons. Glen and Kristin produced two great-grandchildren: Lily(2) and Abby(19 days). Mark and Kari produced four great-grandchildren: Jordyn(10), Landon(8), Aspen(5), and Owen(2)
Lynn Ellen and William produced a granddaughter. Leslee and Jeff have no children. 
We fondly cherish the countless memories of our lives with Mom and Dad. We also were encouraged to hold dear to our Christianity, and our GOD and creator.
Mom and Dad taught us to pray often and to truly believe JESUS is our Lord and savior. Growing up in a Christian home certainly helped to chisel this gift on our hearts. We were taught the continuous presence of the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives.
They modeled good Christian behaviors.  They instilled values in us regarding the Ten Commandments, our personal behaviors, proper language, respect for others, compassion, empathy, humility, and making regular contributions to church.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be sent in her memory to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri at csl.edu/support or to Elaine's daughter Lynn (you may contact her at lynnellenmyers@gmail.com) for needs in the memory care unit where Elaine lived.  

We love you so much, Mom. We will always remember you. You live in heaven now. God has always protected you. He has blessed you dearly. Until we meet in heaven, LOVE, Wayne, Dale,    Lynn,  Ellen