Elaine Cole Gearity, age 83, of Stratford, beloved wife of the late Terrence H. Gearity, passed away on April 1, 2018 in Lord Chamberlain Health Center, Stratford. Elaine was born in Bridgeport on October 2, 1934 to the late Melvin and Lillian (Richardson) Cole and has been a life long area resident. She was a graduate of Bassick High School, and put herself through college working as a waitress and bartender, going on to earn an Associate's Degree from Housatonic Community College and a Bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University.   Elaine retired after forty-five years of service as a tax preparer for H&R Block, and a bookkeeper for Drs. Pleban and Duerr. She was also a tax agent for the State of Connecticut, and a former substitute Spanish teacher for the Stratford Board of Education. Elaine was a parishioner of St. James Church in Stratford, where she was a Eucharistic Minister, and a Bible Study facilitator. She was also a volunteer for the Connecticut Food Bank. Survivors include her devoted children, Thomas Simpson and Terri Lynn Gearity both of Stratford, and her cherished grandchildren, Michelle Kubo and Stephen Scherback. Friends may greet her family on Monday, April 9 ^th from 4-7 p.m. in the Adzima Funeral Home 50 Paradise Green Place Stratford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 10 ^th at 10:30 am meeting directly at Saint James Church, 2070 Main Street Stratford. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make a donation in memory of Elaine to St. James Church.