Obituary Notice – Elaine Wickstrom Winton

SINCLAIRVILLE:  Elaine Wickstrom Winton, 81, of Towerville Road, Sinclairville, NY, and David Street, Iverness, FL, transitioned to her eternal resting place at her home in the early and quiet hours of Friday, September 14th, 2018.  She was cared for during her final journey by her hreatly loved youngest son and devoted companion, Scott, with support from other family members, Lake Erie Home Dialysis and Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care.

She was born in Jamestown, NY on September 3, 1937, oldest child of Elmer and Violet (Frederes) Wickstrom.  She graduated from Falconer Central School, Class of 1955 and married her husband of 45 years, the late Archie Winton, on September 3, 1955 at the Levant Wesleyan Church.

As a young woman, Elaine was an accomplished skater, swimmer and bowler and enjoyed a number of other athletic activities.  Both her paternal and maternal grandparents were dairy farmers, so it was natural for her to marry a dairy farmer.  She was proud of her Swedish roots and spoke fondly and often of Swedish customs learned from her paternal grandparents who immigrated from Sweden.

Elaine and her husband were owners and operators of the multi-generational dairy farm, Arlaine Farms, in Sinclairville.  In addition to being an active partner in the family farm, she was also a homemaker, devoted mother to her four sons, grandchildren and a community volunteer.  She was active in the South Stockton Church of God (now the Wayside Chapel), Chautauqua County Farm Bureau, Cassadaga Valley Parents Teachers Association, Ross Mills Cemetery Association and March of Dimes.  She was a long-time leader of the former Towerville Tornadoes 4-H Club.

Elaine and Archie enjoyed being snowbirds at their winter home in Florida, and she was active in a number of religious and civic organizations there including working as a volunteer in the nursery of the Hernando Church of the Nazarene Church.  After her husband’s death in 2000, she continued to lead an active life in Florida over the winter months, thanks to the love and companionship of her friends there.  In fact, she spent the winter of 2018 in Florida and only became ill upon returning back to New York in May of this year.

She loved all children, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was always present at all of their events and competitions, including sporting events, 4-H and livestock competitions and musical events.  She was a fixture at the Chautauqua County Fair and for more than three generations, she could be seen ringside at various dairy and livestock competitions, cheering on the young people and keeping track of the show results.

Her family and friends appreciated her daily sense of gratitude for everything in her life, her intense kindness and loyalty, her trademark humility and unparalleled sense of commitment and compassion.  Her faith in God was at the center of her life and was a driving force throughout her life, including the final days.  She always had a kind and gentle word of support and encouragement for everyone she met.  She ended every conversation, whether it be on the phone or in person with a simple but powerful, “I love you.”

Elaine had an angelic singing voice and the most beautiful handwriting.

Surviving are her four sons Jeff (Jim Modica) Winton, of Chicago, Boston & Mayville; Monty (Debbie) Winton, Todd Winton, and Scott Winton, all of Sinclairville.  Also surviving are grandchildren, Todd (Missy) Winton, Jr., Brian (Sarah) Winton, Felicia Winton, Melissa (Tyler) Griswold, Jason (Ashley) Winton, Emily Winton, Abbey Carnes & Jacob Beebe and great grandchildren Brooke & Brenden Winton, Lance & Madison Griswold, Paige & Wyatt Winton, Sydney Winton & Ethan Willebrandt and Evelyn & Colten Winton.

Besides her parents she was predeceased by her greatly loved and missed grandson, Brooks, who died in 2012, by her husband Archie, who died in 2000 and her brother Dennis Wickstrom, who died in 2003.

Friends are welcome to call at Riles & Woolley Funeral Home, 39 Main Street, Forestville on Sunday from 2-6 PM.  Funeral Services will be held Monday morning at 11 o’clock from Park Church, Cassadaga Campus (former Cassadaga Baptist Church Building), 25 Maple Avenue, Cassadaga, NY, with Pastor Joe Osborne, of the north Harmony United Methodist Church, officiating.  Interment will follow in Red Bird Cemetery, Route 380, Sinclairville.

The family suggests memorials may be made to Chautauqua County Cooperative Extension 4-H Dairy Project, Attn: Kate Ewer 3542 Turner Road, Jamestown, NY 14701.  To post condolences go to www.rilesandwoolleyfuneralhome.com.

Above all else, the family requests that ongoing, generous acts of kindness be extended to others in her memory.  Please also let those you love know how you feel each and every day.  This is how she lived her life and how she expected others to live.