Elaine A. (Byrne) Almond

Elaine A. Almond, 80, of Bolton, MA, former longtime resident of Belmont, MA, died peacefully from a very brief illness that led to heart and respiratory failure at Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA on Tuesday morning the 4th of March.

Elaine was born in Cambridge, MA in November of 1944, to Francis & Agnes Byrne, whom she loved dearly, along with her 3 older brothers Francis (Buster), Arnold (who passed away in childhood) and Richard (Dickie).   Elaine graduated from Cambridge Latin High School before going to work at Eastern Company as an Executive Secretary. This was fortuitous for this is where she would meet a young co-worker named Walter Almond whom she had a very brief courtship with (Walter asked Elaine to marry him on their very first date) that led to a marriage of over 60 years and produce 5 Children and 11 Grand Children.

Elaine’s life became being an effective “Wingman” in all of her husband Walter’s business activities along with his charitable, fraternal and social endeavors, as well as raising her 5 children whose happiness was always her main goal. Elaine was so successful at this that she held the moniker “Saint Elaine” and she was known as Walter’s better half. 

However, it was Elaine’s children, and later her grandchildren, that gave her the greatest joy of her life. Linda Jones and her husband Erik of Harvard, MA, Robert Almond and his wife Patricia of Boston, MA, Laura Wourinen and her husband Alan of Pepperell, MA, William Almond of Leominster and his twin brother Brian Almond with his wife Karen of Barrington, RI.

Having 5 children within 6 years of each other was no easy trick, made more difficult by the fact that Elaine had a degenerative bone disease in her Hips forcing her to have 3 major hip replacement surgeries within 6 years of the twins being born.  Despite this Elaine worked tirelessly to raise them, maintain the household while supporting Walter in his work and charitable activities, among them being a Founding Member of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. With so many kids Elaine was vigilant in making sure everybody got the same… whether it was toys at Christmas or candies at Easter and Halloween, or bringing friends to the movies or the beach.  Elaine would throw the neighborhood into the back of her Station Wagon and tackle logistics of chairs, toys snacks, clothes, blankets, towels etc all in the pursuit of making sure her kids had a great time and no one missed out.

Then her Grandchildren came along and they became her end all and be all. Ian, Alec, Luke, Ainsley and Cole Jones, Henry, Marlena and Wyatt Wourinen, Liam Almond, and Jack and Ellie Almond became her focus and each of them were her Sunshine.

Elaine is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Elaine’s visiting hours will be in the Short, Williamson & Diamond Funeral Home, 52 Trapelo Rd, Belmont, MA on Sunday, March 9th between 4 and 7pm. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, March 10th at 11:30am at Saint Camillus Parish, 1185 Concord Turnpike (Rt.2) in Arlington, MA (Please meet at Church) with interment at Belmont Cemetery on Grove Street in Belmont, MA. A gathering to honor her life will follow at Conley's Pub & Grille located at 164 Belmont St. in Watertown, MA. Immediately following the burial. In lieu of flowers the family would like you to make a donation in Elaine’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. swdfuneralhome.com

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