Elaine Theresa Girard, of 5 Dartmouth Street in Claremont, N.H., died at Valley Regional Hospital on her 77^th birthday of a sudden illness.

She was born in Claremont, NH, on July 28, 1932 the daughter of Walter J. and Rene (Savengy) Goodhue and resided here most of her life.

Mrs. Girard worked as a nurses aid at the Claremont Nursing Home and the Sullivan County Nursing Home.

She attended St Mary School and was a communicant of St Joseph Church. She enjoyed shopping and collecting Father Christmas’s.

She is the widow of Alfred Joseph Girard whom she married on Jan. 17, 1953 and he died March 10, 2004.

The surviving family includes four sons, SCPO Alfred L. Girard and his wife, Anna of Oakville, MD, Barry M. Girard and his wife, Mary of Sharon, NH, Steven J. Girard and Keith A. Girard both of Claremont; one daughter, Susan Fletcher and her husband Steven of Unity;  six grandchildren;  two great-grandsons;  one brother, Ronald Goodhue of Claremont also nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends may call at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street on Friday evening July 31^st from 6 to 8 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Joseph Church on Saturday Aug. 1^st at 11 am with Rev. Father George Majka, Pastor officiating.  Interment will follow in St Mary Cemetery.

Donations can be made in her memory to the St. Joseph Renovation Fund, PO Box 824, Claremont, NH 03743.