Elaine Marie McClellan, 82, of Ansonia, passed away suddenly on August 14, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Derby on October 23, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Paul Matejek and Anne (Rogowski) Matejek.
A lifelong resident of Ansonia and longtime communicant of the Church of the Assumption, Elaine graduated from Ansonia High School in 1961 and the Bellevue School of Nursing in New York City in 1964. She spent more than 40 years as a registered nurse at Griffin Hospital in the PACU and Short Term Surgery units. Nursing was a true calling for Elaine, and her natural instinct to care for others led her to train in therapeutic touch, which she incorporated into her work. She later earned her BS in Public Health Administration from the University of New Haven in 1994.
Elaine embraced life with the same energy she brought to her work. She loved spending time with friends, sharing a meal, seeing a show at Center Stage, decorating her home, working in the yard, and riding her tractor to mow the lawn. She loved the beach and ocean, a good hot dog, fried whole-belly clams, and anything that sparkled.
Above all, Elaine treasured her family. She was a devoted mother to Daniel H. McClellan and his wife, Mary Lee (McGuire) McClellan, and Jill (McClellan) Marshall. She shared a special bond with her niece and nephew, Katarie O’Meara and Sean O’Meara, whom she helped raise and loved as her own. Elaine was also very close to her sister, Meredith (Matejek) McNulty, and cherished Meredith’s visits to Ansonia, when the sisters would spend weeks together.
She was an immensely proud grandmother to Brendan McClellan and his fiancée, Ashley Felder; Emma McClellan; and Caden and Ryder Marshall. She was excited for Brendan as he settled into his new home and treasured visiting Emma in Nashville.
When Caden and Ryder were young, Elaine retired from nursing and, for 14 years, traveled weekly from Ansonia to Brooklyn to spend several days helping care for them. Along the way, Ryder gave her the name “Meega.” It stuck, and being Meega became one of the great joys of her life.
Elaine is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Those who loved Elaine will remember her remarkable work ethic, independence and determination, her instinct to care for others, and her belief that the people you love are worth showing up for, again and again. She lived a life of hard work, deep friendships, devotion to family, service to others, and, whenever possible, a little bit of sparkle.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, August 19, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Jenkins King Funeral Home in Ansonia, followed by a Mass at NOON at the Church of the Assumption in Ansonia.
In a nod to Elaine’s lifelong love of all things that shine, family and friends are invited to wear a little sparkle as they gather to celebrate her life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Elaine’s honor to the Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard.