Hailey - Aleen Sylvia McElvain was born on September 26, 1913, in EI Paso, Texas. She passed away on Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, under the loving care of the Blaine Manor staff, at the age of 93.
She left EI Paso as a child, lived for a short time in Ajo, Ariz., and her family settled in Los Angeles in the early 1930s. She attended Garfield High School, but due to the difficult times of "The Depression," had to leave school during her senior year to work at a hosiery mill. Sadly, she was never able to realize her dream of being a teacher. Her younger sister, age 16, also went to work at the same factory, but was delighted to get out of school.
In 1934 she married Michael Dietrich. They had one daughter, Kathleen Lenore. She was immediately nicknamed 'Bunny," since she was born on Easter. The name stuck into adulthood with family and friends. Aleen was a full-time wife and mother. However, she was active in community outreach. During World War II, she did volunteer work at the Red Cross, was a Girl Scout leader, and our home was a polling location during elections. She later worked in specialty dress shops and at the Bullock's Fur Salon in La Habra. She was a "people person" and, therefore, was a successful saleswoman. She and Mike divorced in 1959.
Aleen married Anthony LaCorte in 1961. They enjoyed traveling and vacationing in the California mountains and national parks with family and friends. "Tony" passed away in 1983. The most important thing in her life was spending time with her family. She was very close to her three sisters and brother. Aleen was a devoted mother and grandmother to her granddaughters Karla and Kern. She also loved spending time with her nieces, nephews, and their children. She never failed to remember a birthday and loved celebrating every holiday.
She loved traveling. Her favorite trips were cruises to Hawaii. She also loved music and singing. Just ask any staff member at Blaine Manor. She knew the words to every song that would be mentioned during trivia games and was a wiz at crossword puzzles.
Surviving family includes daughter Kathleen "Bunny" Manus (Carl); her siblings, Thelma Grace Ferraro (Steve) of Huntington Beach and Louise Crew (David) of Huntington Beach; nephews David McElvain (Ann) or Kerrville, Texas and Stephen Dilbeck (DarIa) of Huntington Beach; nieces Cynthia Shaffer Edwards of Arnold, Calif., and Donna Ferraro of San Fernando Valley, Calif.; grand-niece Malinda Edwards Hemig (Greg) of lone, Calif.; grand-nephew Kevin Edwards (Kelly) and grand-daughters Karla Manus of Seattle, Wash., and Kern Manus of Santa Monica, Calif.
Aleen was preceded in death by her twin sister Eileen, who died at 3 months of age, father Floyd McElvain, mother Clara Ella McElvain Buehler, niece Linda McElvain Holt, sister Nina McElvain Shaffer, and brother Denzel McElvain.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blaine Manor Auxiliary at Box 273, Hailey, Idaho, 83333.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Aug. 23, at 6:30, at the Wood River Chapel in Hailey. A second memorial and burial service will be held at the Hillside Chapel in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Calif., on Aleen's 94th birthday, Sept. 26.
