Rockville Centre resident is Senior Citizen of the Year

In a Uniondale Marriott ballroom packed with friends, family and fans on May 13, Rockville Centre’s Elaine Stillwell was named Nassau County Senior Citizen of the Year. At the luncheon, Stillwell, 72, was lauded for her community involvement and her selfless devotion to enhancing the quality of life for Nassau County’s citizens.

It was one of many honors that Stillwell has received in the 24 years she has worked with families in mourning. She is the former bereavement coordinator for the Diocese of Rockville Centre and the founder, with her husband, Joe, of the village’s chapter of the Compassionate Friends, a support group for grieving families.

“We are honoring a woman who has reached the epitome,” said County Legislator Denise Ford, who stepped in for County Executive Ed Mangano, who was unable to attend the luncheon. Ford described Stillwell as “courageous, and willing to help others with a kind heart and a shoulder to cry on.”

“We are richly blessed to have Elaine as a lifelong resident,” said Rockville Centre Mayor Mary Bossart, who presented Stillwell with a citation from the village. “Even in terrible sorrow, she was able to go on and live her life.” Turning to Stillwell on the dais, she added, “Thank you for everything you do.”

Many members of the Rockville Centre Compassionate Friends, who meet once a month at Molloy College, attended the luncheon, and along with senior citizens from all over the county, and others who work with them, they listened as Stillwell described the path that led her to her passion.

Until her retirement last summer, Stillwell worked closely with 134 parishes for 12 years, spearheading programs for the bereaved, training support group facilitators, maintaining a website of bereavement programs in Nassau and Suffolk counties and chairing an annual bereavement conference — in addition to working with agencies, hospitals, counselors, support groups and people of all faiths to build a bereavement support system on Long Island. Known for her zeal, caring and sense of humor, she has been the “Voice of the Bereaved,” making sure anyone who suffered a loss had a place to turn for help.