Obituary of Elaine Stephanie Calo
Elaine Stephanie (née Zemaiduk) Calo, a mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully in her bed at home on February 27, 2026, while being cared for by her eldest grandchild Jade, at the age of 79. Born on August 18, 1946, in Brooklyn, NY, to Russian immigrant parents Stephen Zemaiduk and Elizabeth (née Danyko) Zemaiduk (Elizabeth originally emigrated to Russia from Austria), Elaine’s early life was marked by resilience and the blessing of found family. Her mother passed away when Elaine was only 18 months old, and when she was five, her father became too ill to care for her, leading to her placement in the foster system. From there, Michael and Mae McHale welcomed her as their own, raising her alongside their biological daughters, whom Elaine always cherished as true sisters. She often shared fond stories of her 1950s Brooklyn childhood, like playing iron tag with neighborhood friends, evoking a simpler era of street games and community bonds.
Elaine worked as a secretary before marrying Carmelo Calo in 1975. Though they divorced in 1983, she embraced life’s changes with determination. A few years later, as a single mother of 2, she returned to school, earning her associate’s degree in accounting and transitioning into word processing roles, first at IBM and then at Insurance Services Office. She retired in 2010 as head of the word processing department and as a homeowner, proud of her professional and personal accomplishments built on frugality, hard work, and perseverance. Her sister Geri has a particularly fond memory of visiting Elaine at work in the 70's and getting to see the financial ticker all around the room and going out with Elaine and friends to play BINGO.
A lifelong New York City resident for 77 years until November 2023, Elaine then moved to Howell, NJ to live with her daughter, son-in-law Thomas Motondo, and her three eldest grandchildren, embracing this new chapter with the same strength and resilience that defined her.
Elaine’s greatest pride was her three children: Peter McDonough, who splits his time between upstate New York and Connecticut; Eleonora (Ellie) Calo; and Gregory Calo, who relocated to North Carolina with his wife Francesca and their 2 children several years ago. She cherished her visits with them, especially Greg's family's visit this past fall, where they created brief but precious memories that will undoubtedly endure. But nothing brought her more happiness than her five grandchildren: Jade Motondo, Braden Motondo, Paige Elaine Motondo, Lilith Elaine Calo, and Sebastian Calo, who were the absolute lights of her life, filling her days with endless delight and purpose.
Beyond her family, Elaine’s favorite pastimes reflected her loving spirit and zest for simple joys. She treasured FaceTiming with her granddaughter Lilith, their conversations bridging any distance with love and laughter and shared stories. Snuggling with her beloved cats and especially her little rescue dog, Jada, brought her comfort, companionship, and joy, while evenings spent watching crime shows on the ID network satisfied her curiosity for mysteries. She had a sweet tooth for York peppermint patties, Strawberry Cream Savers, and adored sipping raspberry-flavored Dunkin’ Donuts hot chocolate -- treats that made even her toughest days just a little bit sweeter. Less than 48 hours before she took her final breath, she had one last raspberry hot chocolate that she was just so happy about.
In her younger days, Elaine loved bowling, and just a couple of weeks ago, she felt well enough to attend her grandchildren Braden and Paige’s high school bowling matches, cheering them on with the same enthusiasm she once brought to the lanes. Over the past few years, she beamed with pride at high school band performances and competitions, watching Jade twirl with the color guard and Braden shine in the marching band drum line, as well as attending many of Paige's cheer competitions. Recently, she celebrated her daughter and 15-year-old granddaughter’s birthdays, and only four days before gaining her angel wings, she sang “Happy Birthday” to Paige and savored peanut butter and chocolate ice cream cake -- moments that highlighted how much love and happiness she had right up to the very end of her full life.
She is survived by her beloved sister, Geri Brady, who lives in upstate New York; brothers-in-law, John Mountford and Dan Brady; and her cherished nieces and nephews: Michele Slingluff, JT Mountford, Brian Mountford, Kelly O’Toole, and Keri Guerin. Elaine was predeceased by her biological brother, Steve Zemaiduk, who passed 19 years ago, and her eldest sister, Mary Ann Mountford, who left us 7 years ago.
Her circle of love extended to her two dear friends, Elsa Gatto and Lisa Laico, who will miss her deeply, as she touched so many lives with her kindness, humor, stories, and steadfast loyalty. Elaine and Elsa always loved to tell the story of how two people waiting at the same bus stop to commute to work in Manhattan developed into a decade’s long friendship. For the majority of her adult life, she also had several dearly cherished friends who have since passed on, and who have surely welcomed her home with open arms and are already telling each other stories and making each other laugh. Linda Peloquin, Solfrid Hjelmas, and Kim Laico were undoubtedly waiting for Elaine at the gates of heaven, to shower her with welcoming love and guide her through to this next journey.
Elaine’s legacy is one of deeply rooted connections -- a woman who poured herself into her family, her friends, and the little things that made life sweet, as well as overcoming many early hardships to build a life full of family and friends. Though she has left us, her spirit lives on in the stories remembered, the laughs shared, the events enjoyed together, and the unbreakable bonds she forged.
A Memorial Gathering will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Friday, April 3, 2026 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM and Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For information, directions or to leave condolence messages for the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com