Elena (Carigliano) Clabaugh of Milford, MA, after 87 years, peacefully left this world surrounded by family on March 8, 2021, after a courageous struggle with Alzheimer’s. She is survived by son Richard Clabaugh (II), and his wife Monica of Douglas and their children Andrew, Abigail, Angelica, Benjamin, and Christina and by her daughter Deborah (Clabaugh) Weisenhorn and her husband Robert of Milford and their children Zachary, Nicholas, Victoria, and Rebecca.
Elena is also survived by her sister, Grace (Cillo), brother William, brother Louis, his wife Diane, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was the beloved wife of Richard Clabaugh (Senior) who passed away in 1998 after 36 years of marriage. Her parents Mary and Louis, her brother Frank, sister-in-law Susan, and brother-in-law Richard passed before her.
Elena came into the world on February 26th, 1934, born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Nicknamed 'Chickie', she grew up as part of a large Italian Catholic family. She loved this period of her life, surrounded by her parents, sister, three brothers, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She made the most of New York, attending many concerts (her favorites were Gordon MacRae and Frank Sinatra), theater (her favorite was seeing My Fair Lady, with Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison while sitting in front of Lucille Ball) and New York Yankee games (she loved 'her' Yankees her whole life) while she worked in Manhattan for New York Life Insurance Company.
After marrying Richard in 1961, and she joined him in his native Massachusetts where they eventually made their home in Milford where they raised their two young children. She loved making a happy home for her family, especially during the Christmas season where she loved to spoil her children and entertain family and friends. She worked at Milford Regional Hospital in the X-ray Department for many years, retiring in the 1990s. But ‘X-Ray Ellie', as she was known at the hospital, continued to work there part-time for many years after her ‘retirement.’
Elena sold her home on West Fountain St. in 2009, moving in with her daughter, son-in-law, and their children where she enjoyed many years with her family. It was there she spent her declining years under their loving care.
Calling hours will be on Friday, March 12 at the Consigli-Ruggerio Funeral Home, 46 Water St, Milford, MA from 5-8 pm. The funeral will take place on Saturday, March 13 at 10 am at The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 5 E Main St, Milford, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org