Elaine Goumas, 86, of Hamden, Connecticut former longtime resident of West Haven, passed away on Friday, April 9, 2021. Born in Derby on July 10, 1934 she was the daughter of the late Alexander and Margaret (Kampanides) Goumas. She was raised in Ansonia and was a graduate of Ansonia High School. Her family co-owned Presto Lunch. In 1951, after her father died, Elaine and her family moved to West Haven. Elaine worked for the General Electric Company, then Pitney Bowes, where she was an office cleric for over 25 years.
Elaine had fond memories of her early years, when her mother would pack a food basket every Saturday during the summer and take her girls by bus to the West Haven beaches where they would spend the day with other Greek families they knew.
She was a longtime parishioner of St Barbara Greek Orthodox church in Orange where she was an active member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society. She along with her sister Lucy volunteered many hours helping prepare food for the Odyssey Festivals and serving food in the dining areas.  She took pride in crafting and sewing. She made beautiful, quilted bedspreads, bags and aprons and enjoyed gifting them to others. She took pleasure in taking painting classes with friends and created wall paintings, Christmas decorations, serving trays, and items for children. Though she loved to cook, occasionally she would head to McDonalds to buy a hamburger with tomato and lettuce only and a diet coke with a slice of lemon. Elaine was an avid reader, especially enjoying mysteries.  She loved to travel with her family, touring all of Greece and taking many road trips across the country. They would make frequent stops during these trips to visit and stay with family along the way. Two of her favorite places to visit were Florida and Cape Cod. Elaine loved being with family and close friends.  She was active and always on the go.
She was predeceased by her sisters Lucy and Anastasia and close friends Gene and Kitty Lightle.  She leaves behind her cousins Demetrios (Eva) Campanides of Maryland , Triantafilos (Evi) Campanides of Greece, and Anastasia (Demetrios) Kottas of Greece and their children, family friends Gina Michaels and her sisters,  as well as her caring friends Robyn Maher, Pam Smith, and James and Florence Sarigianis and their families.
The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, April 13th at 11:00 a.m. at St Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 480 Racebrook Road, Orange and live-streamed at saintbarbara.org/live_services/. Pandemic protocols will be observed, including mask wearing and social distancing. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St Barbara Greek Orthodox at the address above. Arrangements are in the care of Celentano Funeral Home, New Haven.