Elaine Rita Malak

Elaine Rita Malak, 90, passed away on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at her home north of Sandpoint, Idaho. A funeral mass will be conducted at 11:00 am, on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Dennis C. Day officiating. The Rosary will be said at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, November 8, 2016 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Inurnment will take place in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Elaine was born to Joseph J. Janas and Helen (Dembowski) on September 1, 1926 in Toledo, Ohio. She attended Central Catholic High School graduating in 1945. During a family wedding in 1945 she met a soldier on leave named Aloysius (Al) Malak. He was the one and only. After he was discharged from the United States Air Force they married on May 11, 1946. They had two daughters Pamela and Catherine. Elaine was a stay at home mom. Then in 1955, when the girls went to school she decided to go to work. She started work at Lion Dry Goods later known as Lion Westgate. She became a buyer/manager for the girls and infants department spending 32 years in that position. In 1985, Elaine and Al decided to retire and move to Sandpoint, Idaho but cancer held them back a couple years. Elaine is a cancer survivor. In 1987 they packed up and moved to Sandpoint. Idaho to be nearer to family. While in Sandpoint she volunteered at Bonner General Hospital and was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Altar Society. She is survived by her husband Al; daughters Pamela Hibbs and Catherine Detzer of Sandpoint; granddaughter Alyssa Stapleton of Athol, ID; great grandson Hudson Stapleton. Sisters Patricia (Richard) McCavitt of Sun City, CA, Carol (Ronald) Kulczak of Toledo, OH and nephews Mark and Kevin Kulczak. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Bonner General Health Hospice. The family extends their thanks to all of Bonner General Health Hospice for their care and support.