Elaine Carol Rendall

Elaine Carol Rendall of Orlando, Florida was called home to the Lord on September 7, 2021. She was 76 years old. Born in Orange, New Jersey to Henry and Teresa DeMatteis, she grew up in Livingston and graduated from Livingston High School, Montclair State College and received her master of arts degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. After teaching Spanish at Mountain Lakes High School for several years, she moved to Miami, Florida. There she held a variety of senior human resource positions, which later led to her move to Orlando.

Prior to the last ten years that were spent coping with the complications of MS, Elaine had an active and adventuresome life. As a child, she loved the water and the Jersey Shore. In Florida, she enjoyed scuba diving. She loved to travel, especially to Spain occasionally chaperoning students, throughout Europe, and family holidays in Mexico. She was an avid volunteer and was most proud of her time spent as guardian ad litem and later as a “Pink Lady” at Orlando Regional Medical Center. She was known as a passionate football fan, rooting for the Miami Dolphins and later, all things Tom Brady.

Elaine had a way with people; she took time to really know them and enjoyed studying their spirit. She was a storyteller, relaying old family stories or embellishing life’s adventures, often over her favorite glass of Jack Daniels. She loved literature and the arts. And she always was there to listen to her friends and family members when they needed sound advice or just wanted to share their lives. She was proud of and loved all the kids in the family and spent many phone calls hearing all about the day-to-day things they were all involved in.

She is survived by her brother, Don DeMatteis, Crystal River, Florida; her sister, Rhonda DeMatteis, Cape Coral, Florida; her nieces, Cassandra Marden, Old Orchard Beach, Maine; and (goddaughter) Tracy DeMatteis, Scarborough, Maine; and great-nieces, twins, Sarah and Amanda Marden, and Zoe DeMatteis. She is also survived by Frederick “Skip” Rendall, to whom she was previously married.

Elaine and her family will be eternally grateful to her caregivers for their compassionate care and friendships over the many years, and the staff at Orlando Regional Medical Center, who provided comfort and support to her and family members during her final days.

A private family celebration of her life was held at her favorite place in Maine, appropriately, DiMillo’s On the Water. Contributions in her memory may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.