Elaine Patrice Frauenhoffer (nee McDonough) passed away peacefully on March 2, 2016, after her second battle with cancer. Elaine was 65 years old.

Elaine Frauenhoffer was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, at 5:25 a.m. on September 14, 1950. She was the fourth child out of six and only daughter of Mary Ellen (nee Carroll) and John James McDonough.

She was a tomboy growing up who loved to explore with her brothers and best friends. She went to school at Mercy Catholic School and enjoyed theatre and several sports (including field hockey and track). She married her husband, Dennis Phillip Frauenhoffer, on May 1, 1976. They had four children together: Mark Jason in 1977, Matthew John in 1980, and twins Megan Patrice and Bridget Michelle in 1983.

The spunky redhead loved to swim, play cards and trivia, go skydiving and bowling, buy everything Irish-related, go to garage sales, watch TV and movies, camp out at Litchfield, IL, and hang out with family. She had a knack for sewing, making clothes and designing something out of nothing. Her interest in art and painting brushed off on many of her kids too. Elaine also loved to rearrange the furniture and everything on the walls to the surprise of her family. She was a stay-at-home mom while her kids were growing up, but she went back to college (Florissant Valley Community College) to become a nurse — a field in which she thrived. She rose up the ranks to become director of nursing at several area nursing homes. Her coworkers were very loyal to her and loved her work ethic and comradery.

She battled cancer more than a dozen years ago and was in full remission. The “Fox” was always a fighter and carried a sharp tongue with her. When the cancer returned a few years ago, she made the most of life and spent her days surrounded by family and the ones she loved.

She was preceded in death by her parents Mary Ellen and John McDonough, her husband’s parents Beatrice and John Frauenhoffer, and her brother John McDonough.

Elaine is survived by her husband Dennis; her four kids Mark (Angie), Matt (Christy), Megan (Marcus) and Bridget (Joseph); her brothers Robert, Michael (Kathleen), Joe (Janet) and Tom (Mimi) McDonough; her brother John’s wife Muriel; and her seven grandkids John, Chase, Alyssa, Landon, Serenity, Paige and Preston. She will be remembered for her love, smile, dedication to family, directness and enjoyment of a great bottle of wine and slice of cheesecake.

On Tuesday, March 8, a visitation will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Imperial, Missouri, from 9:30 – 11 a.m. with Mass following and then an Irish-style wake for everyone at Dennis’s house after the Mass. Elaine will be cremated and buried at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery, but there will be no grave site visitation.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Louis Council.