Garrahy, elaine (Jabs)

Elaine Jabs Garrahy, 79, of Rocky Hill, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 22nd at her home. She was born in Waterbury CT on December 2, 1940, the daughter of Waldemar and Angela (Skoblicka) Jabs. After graduating from Cheshire High School, Elaine earned an Associate’s degree from Vermont College in Montpelier, VT and then worked in business administration for IBM in Montpelier VT, Boston MA, and Hartford CT. At the wedding of her sister Barbara in 1963 she met Edward Garrahy, who was the next-door neighbor and childhood friend of the groom, Andre Lesperance. This fateful introduction began a loving partnership between Ed and Elaine that lasted 49 years until Edward’s death in 2015. The two were married in 1966 and settled in Rocky Hill, where they built their home, raised their family, and became an integral part of the community. In 1977 Elaine rejoined the work force through the temp agency Manpower, which introduced her to Trinity College, who shrewdly optioned her as a direct employee. After nearly 25 years of service during which time she witnessed the graduation of two of her four children, Elaine retired from Trinity in 2006 as the Assistant to the Dean of Faculty. Elaine was a Life Member of the Irish American Home Society and very involved with the Central Connecticut Celtic Cultural Committee (CCCCC). She held various positions and responsibilities within that organization including Secretary of the CCCCC, Chair of the Person of the Year/Parade Grand Marshal Reception, and Chair of the Rocky Hill St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. In 2003 she was honored as the Town Marshal for Rocky Hill’s contingent to the parade. She was an active communicant of St. James Church in Rocky Hill. She was also well known for her unofficial duties, which included hosting a variety of celebrations (the annual Garrahy carol sing and 4th of July parties, among others), acting as the surrogate mother/grandmother to many friends, relatives, and animals, and tirelessly supporting family and community activities which involved all manner of cooking, coaching, sewing, teaching, and general cheerleading. Elaine leaves her children: Patrick Garrahy and his wife Melissa (Mills) of Mansfield, MA, Kate Garrahy and her husband Michael Wilcox of Rocky Hill, Ammer Garrahy of Rocky Hill, and Edward Garrahy and his wife Katie (Callender) of Seattle, WA; her grandchildren: Emma, Daniel, and Caitlin Garrahy of Mansfield, MA, and Adeline Garrahy of Seattle, WA; her step-great-grandchildren Taryn Wilcox of East Hartford, CT, and Kye and Michelina Wilcox of Manchester, CT; her siblings: Walter Jabs of Dumfries, VA and Barbara Lesperance and her husband Andre of Holly Springs, NC; as well as many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and a host of friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday February 28 at 10 AM at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish at St. James Church, 767 Elm St, Rocky Hill. Everyone is invited to go directly to the church. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Family and friends are invited to call at the FarleySullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd, Wethersfield on Thursday from 4 to 7 PM. Memorial contributions may be made in Elaine’s name to Covenant House, Times Square Station, P.O. Box 731, New York, NY 10108-0900. To extend online condolences, share a memory, and/or light a memorial candle, please visit farleysullivan.com.