Surrounded by her children, Elaine Teresa (Canestrari) Rittenhouse, of Windham, NH, passed away on Sept. 10, 2023.

Elaine was a good friend, loving sister, steadfast mother and grandmother and kind hearted, thoughtful individual. It seemed to her children, and their friends and spouses, that she was put on the earth to mother. She was kind, supportive, patient, stern when needed, and above all, devoted to her family.

Born May 3, 1947 in Woonsocket, RI to Augusto Canestrari and Elvira (Santini) Canestrari, she was the youngest of four children. She attended Bridgewater State College and soon after met her husband and lifelong love, Robert, at a Navy dance that she secretly attended without telling her parents. She wore her engagement ring for the rest of her life, despite losing Robert to an unexpected and fast moving leukemia in 1993. Throughout this time her children were at the forefront of her concern. She was always there for them, able to keep the home she had built with her husband, and to make sure they were still able to plan the lives they wanted.

To support her family she joined the staff at the Nesmith Library in Windham. Becoming a librarian was something which had called to her since she was a child. She retired from full time work there in 2022, but continued tending front desk part time until recently, when illness forced her away. A lover of books and reading, the library allowed her to build deep friendships, cultivate many great stories and to interact and assist countless patrons and friends.

Elaine loved the beach, especially in Cape Cod, where she visited every summer. There were few lighthouses on the local coast she had not visited with friends and no piece of seaglass found that was not pocketed and taken home. Red Sox and Patriots games were highlights of her days. She loved events with her large extended family- where she was always in charge of the antipasto. She enjoyed day trips with her daughter, visiting her sister and family 'Up North' in Gilford, NH, visiting her eldest son and his family for Thanksgivings, cooking, gardening, decorating her home, doing puzzles and games, hosting Dominoes nights, listening to Josh Groban, collecting antique knick-knacks, finding four-leaf clovers and so much more.

She leaves behind her son Richard, his wife Kelly and their three children Travis, Keith and Lily of Apollo Beach, FL; her son David, his wife Kristen and their three children David II, Isabelle and Emerson, of Gainesville FL; her son Matthew and his fiancée Erin Inglis of Barnet, VT; and her daughter Juliann Polenchar, her husband Joseph Polenchar and their newborn daughter Ava of Manchester, NH. She also leaves behind her siblings Roger Canestrari, Donald Canestrari and Brenda (Canestrari) Trudeau and their spouses and families.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: lls.org.

Calling hours will be held at Carrier Family Funeral Home at 38 Range Rd. Windham, NH, on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. A service will immediately follow at 12pm at the funeral home.