Elaine Brainard(Submitted by Funeral Home)
POTSDAM, New York (WWNY) – Elaine Brainard, 87, of Ames Road, Potsdam, died Sunday, March 1, 2026, at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, after a brief illness.
A private funeral service will be held for the family at Lawrence Funeral Home with a Spring burial in the Chapel Hill Cemetery in Parishville.
Elaine was born in Massena on May 12, 1938, to the late William H. and Rose E. (Besio) Pharoah. She was a 1956 graduate of Potsdam High School.
On September 8, 1956, she married Merrill “Mel” Brainard in the Potsdam Baptist Church with Rev. Orion Hess as celebrant.
Elaine retired as a bookkeeper for Matott’s Sales & Service in Canton in the early 80’s.
She is survived by her children, Steven (Lisa) Brainard of Brasher Falls, and Melanie (George) Armstrong of Lisbon; two sisters, Barbara (Mike) Dunn of Potsdam and Marlene Thompson of Canton; four grandchildren, Wendy (Mike) Parker of West Chazy, Raymond (Jeni) Mead III of Lisbon, Kelsi (Mike) Flack of Lisbon and Katrina Brainard of Conroe TX; as well as four great-grandchildren, Rylie and Garrett Flack, and Ella and Maxwell Mead.
She was predeceased by her husband, “Mel” (2021), and three siblings, Walter Pharoah (2004), William Pharoah (2019), and Harriett Brothers (2014).
Elaine achieved her student pilot’s license in 1976 and was a crossword puzzle whiz! She was a talented artist and enjoyed attending Wilson Bickford painting classes with her family. Elaine was a devoted “Mimi” and “Grammy,” loved to cook big meals, and was remarkably generous to those she cared for.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Potsdam Humane Society, 17 Madrid Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13676.
Tributes, condolences, and photos may be shared by visiting www.lawrencefuneralhome.org
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