Elaine Shafonda of East Moriches, formerly of Uniondale, died on May 8 at the Neighbors of Dunn County nursing facility in Menomonie, Wisconsin. She was 88.
Ms. Shafonda was born on February 22, 1926, raised in Woodhaven, and graduated from Queens College in 1981. She was married for almost 40 years to Alfred Shafonda, who predeceased her in 1987.
Ms. Shafonda was a secretary to the Rockefellers in Manhattan and then for the Garden City School District. She later enjoyed being a popular substitute teacher for several eastern Long Island school districts. She was a member of the Taproot Writing Group and a longtime congregant of the Westhampton United Methodist Church. She loved the outdoors and was an avid swimmer and a gifted writer.
Ms. Shafonda is survived by her three children, Gary Shafonda and wife Karen of Hampton Bays, Ellen Liberto and husband David, and Marilyn Gauger, all of Wisconsin; nine grandchildren, Daniel, Emily, Jonathan, Jesse, Ann, Stephen, Julie, John and Suzanna; and one great-grandchild, Vera.
Memorial donations may be made to the Southampton Animal Shelter, online at www.southamptonanimalshelter.com or mailed to Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, P.O. Box 696, Hampton Bays, NY 11946.