Elaine Ann Rifenberick

Elaine Ann Hirschy was born in Ellwood City, PA, on October 4, 1942. She was the first of four daughters, born to Eleanor Mae and Daniel Keith Hirschy. Eleanor and Dan felt called by God to serve as missionaries in Africa and left with three-year-old Elaine in May 1946, to travel to French Equatorial Africa. The family would eventually settle in Koumra, Chad, and add three other girls to the family: Judy, Linda, and Kathy.

Although Elaine had stories about the noise of the hyenas and lions, the intense heat and the ever-present scorpions and mosquitos in Africa, she also had fond memories about playing family board games, cooking in the kitchen with her mother, and listening to her parents read aloud. During her time there, young Elaine loved watching elephants cross the street and also had a pet monkey! The African children taught Elaine and her sisters how to play some of the tribal drums during their time in Chad.

Every four years, the Hirschys would return home to the US for a year of rest. But when the family returned to Africa in 1956, for their third term, Elaine remained behind in the US to start high school at Wheaton Academy in Illinois. While there, she enjoyed getting to know other teenagers whose parents were away in foreign countries, and formed several lifelong friendships with other students. Elaine told stories of babysitting for a dollar an hour, and getting two dollars an hour after midnight!

After graduating from Wheaton Academy in 1960, Elaine briefly attended Geneva College in PA, and transferred to Cedarville College in OH in 1961. During her last year at Cedarville, she started hanging out at the basketball court, where she caught the eye of a chemistry major named David Rifenberick. David shared later that he bought her an engagement ring shortly after their first date (sitting together at Sunday church). They were engaged by New Year’s Eve four months later.

In 1964, Elaine graduated with a Bachelors in General Studies from Cedarville and a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Central State University in Wilberforce, OH. In an education career that would eventually span over four decades, her very first position was teaching first grade in Beavercreek, OH.

David and Elaine were married on June 19, 1965, in Evans City, PA. Between then and the birth of their first daughter Heather in 1972, Elaine completed her Masters in English from the University of Delaware. After Heather was born, Elaine took a break from teaching, which continued through the birth of their second daughter Jennifer in 1975 and through their move to Mobile, AL, in 1977.

Elaine returned to teaching in 1980, when the family moved to Geigertown, PA, to be part of the faculty at High Point Baptist Academy. She even had her daughter Jennifer as one of her first grade students that first year at High Point! Elaine loved her time in Geigertown, where she made many friends among her fellow teachers, enjoyed attending the annual Ladies’ Seminar, and watching her two girls grow up.

In 1992, the family moved to Joliet, IL, to take faculty positions at Ridgewood Baptist Academy. As always, Elaine loved her fellow teachers and serving her church family during their years in Joliet. In 1996, David and Elaine moved to Westminster, MD, where they joined the faculty of Carroll Christian Schools. Not surprisingly, Elaine again found great joy in her friendships and relationships within her church community at Church of the Open Door.

Eventually, at the urging of their daughters, David and Elaine moved back to the Midwest and settled less than five minutes from where their daughter Heather and son-in-law Caleb lived in Joliet. They welcomed their first granddaughter, Hayden, in 2009. Several years later, after grieving the loss of two granddaughters, Amelie and Adaline, they were blessed with the birth of their first grandson Lincoln, in 2013. In 2015, they were overjoyed to welcome twenty-one-month old Eliana as their last granddaughter when their daughter Jennifer and her husband Pete, completed their adoption journey.

More recently, Elaine was involved with her church family at Grace Baptist Church, where she helped coordinate singers for weekly featured music at church. She enjoyed singing duets with David and singing in the church choir.

At home, Elaine loved gardening, caring for her African violets, baking, and making home-cooked meals every evening. She loved to listen to music and constantly had a book in her hands with her Schnauzer Bentley curled up next to her. Elaine felt the love and support of her constant companion of almost sixty years, her husband David on a daily basis.

Four days a week, Elaine continued her teaching career by helping to homeschool her grandchildren Hayden and Lincoln. She loved reading Bible stories to them and helping them memorize Bible verses. Eliana loved when Grandma would come to visit her in Wisconsin to watch a special performance or celebrate her birthday. Elaine was a devoted grandmother who never failed to put aside what she was reading or working on to listen to her grandchildren’s stories.

Her daughters remember watching Elaine start every morning with a cup of her favorite hot drink, her Bible, and her prayer list. She prayed incessantly for her children, her husband, her grandchildren, extended family, her church family, missionaries, and the many, many people she encountered over her long life. Elaine also never failed to send birthday cards to everyone she knew. She found deep contentment in her relationship with God.

Her sister Judy remembers the intense Scrabble games up in Maine, and Elaine’s routines of praying and studying the Bible every morning.

Her sister Linda cherishes the time that she spent with her older sister Elaine, who was a mother figure to her when their parents were away in Africa. Elaine and David opened their home to Linda during some of her college years.

Her sister Kathy also remembers Elaine as a mother figure and friend and mentioned their shared love of flowers and pets. She will miss the weekly calls that Elaine made to check in on both Linda and Kathy in Maine.

Elaine is preceded in death by her father and mother Daniel and Eleanor Hirschy, and her granddaughters Amelie and Adaline King. She is survived by her loving husband David of Joliet, daughter Heather (Caleb) King of Joliet, daughter Jennifer (Pete) Ohlinger of Oregon, WI, sister Judy (Dennis) Reiter of Willimantic, CT, sisters Linda and Kathy Hirschy of Waterville, ME, granddaughters Hayden and Eliana and grandson Lincoln, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Elaine’s memorial service will be held at Grace Baptist Church at 501 N. State St in Lockport, IL, on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 11 am. All are welcomed to attend. The service will also be live-streamed for anyone who wishes to attend the service online. Details for the livestream of the service will be posted the day prior on Elaine’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/elaine.rifenberick.

In lieu of flowers, money can be donated to Grace Baptist Church of Lockport.