Elaine Louise Sannicandro

Elaine Louise Sannicandro, born Phillips, graced the world with her presence on March 30, 1948, in Hopedale, Massachusetts. As the sun set on her remarkable journey on May 16, 2025, in the warm embrace of her family, she left behind a tapestry of love and memories woven through decades of devoted family life.

Elaine’s departure was marked by her relentless spirit, which shone even in the face of multiple chronic health conditions. Her wish was to be surrounded by those she treasured the most in the comfort of her own home. It was here, enveloped in the love of her adored family, that she quietly slipped away, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew her.

Elaine was predeceased by her parents, Benjamin and Alice Phillips. Elaine had many loving memories of her parents. She and her dad shared a love of the Red Sox. When Elaine had her own family, her parents frequently visited, and there were many family card games.

Elaine had an endless list of admirable qualities: she was bright, sharp-witted, empathetic, beautiful, loving, friendly, intuitive, and had an excellent sense of humor. She fondly talked about her job at the soda shop and dances at Lake View. She loved sharing stories of her life. She was a tall, responsible child. One of her favorite stories was when she was 6 years old, she asked a neighbor if she could take care of her 2-year-old child. The mom agreed, and she walked Little “Peachy” over the bridge and safely back home. She was always amazed that she trusted her at 6 years old. It made Elaine’s day a few years ago when she was reunited with “peachy”. Some other favorite stories are flying with the Red Sox team, going to the Red Sox World Series in 1975, and meeting Al Martino.

Elaine may not have had a medical degree, but she had so much knowledge. She had a quest for information and justice in the medical field. She was a passionate advocate for herself, her family, and her friends' medical care. She asked questions, researched, and refused to be ignored or fluffed off. Most of all, she had compassion for others with medical conditions.

Elaine was also a cherished sister to Eloise Goldstein, David Phillips, and her brother Benjamin Phillips Jr., who predeceased her. Until her final days, she would regularly talk to her sister Eloise, reminiscing about all their childhood memories. Elaine had a close bond with her brother David, They enjoyed daily talks about their cherished childhood and parents, current events, and everything in between. Elaine had a strong bond with her brother, "Benny". Benny and Elaine shared a love of baseball. Elaine was an avid supporter of Benny when he coached the Hopedale Jays.

Elaine is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, including her cousin Terry Bishop, with whom she had regular phone calls.

As a loving wife to Stephen Sannicandro, Elaine cultivated a life rich with compassion and warmth. Together, they navigated the ebbs and flows of life, sharing dreams and making memories that would sustain them even in the toughest of times. Elaine had a love of travel before marriage, traveling to England & Spain and on the Oceanic Cruise. She was a great storyteller and loved sharing these stories. After years of hearing the stories, Stephen and Elaine made new stories and travelled with family on Cruises and to Las Vegas. There were also many treasured trips to Cape Cod, finding sand dollars, seafood, corn on the cob, Joe Macks, and card games, and more card games. They also enjoyed sports together, the Red Sox and the New York Giants. As they aged, they enjoyed listening to the oldies and a variety of movies.

Elaine was born a nurturer, it is no surprise that her role as mother to her adored children, Stephen Sannicandro and Susanne DeBaggis, came naturally, and she fully embraced it. She was thankful to have her children close by. Stephen and his wife, Maalikat, and their children live in town and frequently stop by. Elaine would love to hear her son's stories about Red Sox games, Stephen would take his children to, his pets, and wildlife in his yard. Elaine lived with her daughter Susanne and her husband, Dave. It was often said that Susanne and Elaine shared a brain; they would frequently answer in unison. They had a lot of silly times together singing, dancing, and using catch phrases. Elaine also had many travel adventures with Susanne, including a trip to Montreal, Susanne won to see Celine Dione. They also traveled to NYC, Las Vegas, swam with dolphins, and took many cruises. She had an unbelievably strong bond with both of her children. They adored and loved her deeply.

Elaine's love of family grew with the addition of her beloved grandchildren, Alix, Gianna, and Kyrie Sannicandro. Along with her treasured grandchildren, Benjamin and Lianna Yu Jin Elaine DeBaggis, who affectionately called her Manna. Elaine loved talking with Alix about how they would watch the Aristocrats and their $ store visits, and seeing the caring man he has grown to be. She loved sharing stories about her younger years with Gianna and hearing about Gianna’s adventures, work, and school. She admired Gianna’s zest for life. Elaine took delight in talking about the Red Sox, current events, and playing Monopoly with Kyrie. She was always impressed with his perspective. Her favorite memories of Benjamin include singing Howdy Doodie, his dancing to oldies, and when he gave her her first box of chocolates she ever got in life. She admired Ben’s cooking and getting her to try new things, his musicand his charismatic personality. Elaine adored memories of Lianna on the deck doing crafts and cooking together. She enjoyed seeing Lianna’s art and her kind personality. Elaine had a strong presence in all of her grandchildren's lives and cherished time with each one of them. She had the pleasure of watching them grow and being an active part of their lives. Elaine was so thankful to experience their childhood with them all.

Elaine was a friend and confidant to many. She had unmatched empathy and compassion for others. Since she was a young girl, she was always helping others, standing up for others who were treated unfairly. Her first friend was Nina Bernier, who lived across the street from Elaine’s childhood home. They were lifelong friends who had a very special bond. Nina encouraged and supported Elaine through her final days. Elaine was very friendly and made many friends in her neighborhood. When Elaine moved to Bellingham, she met a girl, Jeanie, who wanted to introduce her to her mother, Joan. Joan and Elaine became friends throughout the years, they loved playing Yahtzee and cards. Elaine also enjoyed writing letters to friends. Later in life, she met a friend, Nancy D., they exchanged letters and cards. They shared the same values, and she took great joy in their letter exchanges. Elaine was truly one of a kind with her unwavering dedication to her friends and family.

She was predeceased by close friends who were like family: Donna Reid, Heidi Imbruno, and Celia Pasquarosa. who shared laughter, tears, and countless moments that enriched her life. Donna and Elaine met at Elaine's first job out of high school at Avery Dennison. Donna also had a heart of gold, so it was no surprise that they became good friends who supported each other through the years. Heidi and Elaine met in middle school and were lifelong friends. They had a love of patriotic music. Elaine and Heidi went on to marry men(Stephen Sannicandro and Michael Imbruno) who were also good friends. The four of them had many fond memories. Celia and Elaine became fast friends, they were two compassionate people who loved their families and loved to talk. Celia was Elaine's son-in-law (David DeBaggis )'s grandmother.. Celia and Elaine would talk for hours on the phone. Elaine missed her frequent conversations with Celia.

Elaine worked at Milford Regional Hospital as an admitting coordinator for 30+ years. In her time there, she made many friends with whom she remained in contact long after her retirement. Including Shelia, Ginny, Sue Q, and those that predeceased her, Pauline and Jean. They shared many lunch dates and phone calls.

To say Elaine was an animal lover would be an understatement. She would frequently say she goes on Facebook to talk to the dogs. Frequently, she would cry happy and sad tears for animal stories she read. She would save them all if she could. She had loving memories of her childhood pets. When Elaine started her own family in Bellingham, there was never a shortage of pets. There were their beloved dogs, Toka and Benny, several adored cats and kittens, bunnies, fish, and hamsters. She had a special bond with her son Stephen’s dog, Legend, and her daughter Susanne’s pugs Rocky and Nomar. In 2005, after having resided in her family home in Bellingham for 29 years, Elaine and her husband Stephen moved to Douglas to live with her daughter and her family. There she had the company of 5 cats, one of whom was Maddie, whom Elaine adored, and another, Atlantis, who watched over Elaine in her final days. Atlantis would frequently sleep on her, and she would not want to disturb him. Until recently, she had the companionship of Chloe the pug. Chloe would follow her everywhere. Elaine was deeply saddened by Chloe’s passing last year. Animals and pets were family to her she was a huge advocate for them. She loved them all and showered them with love.

Although Elaine was homebound for the last several years of her life, it didn’t bother her. She always commented on how she lived such a full, busy life, she was happy to be home. She truly had memories to last her a lifetime. Continually, she would encourage her friends to slow down, relax, and stay in their pajamas and not feel guilty about relaxing. She cherished when her daughter Susanne could stop by with Lyla, a child she nannied. Lyla reminded Elaine of herself when she was young. She adored Lyla. She loved reminiscing with friends and family. She also loved looking at photos. Her good friend Ginny helped her organize all her photo memories. Although Ginny didn’t drive, she still made every effort to visit. Visits and phone calls with family and friends are what make her days bright. She was very sentimental, saving cards, mementos, and notes from friends. She cried when she was happy and when she was sad.

The resonance of Elaine Louise Sannicandro’s life can be felt not just in the stories shared with family or the cherished moments spent with friends, but in the legacy of love she leaves behind. Though her voice may be silent, the echoes of her compassion will continue to inspire those she loved dearly. She holds a treasured place in the hearts of many, and her spirit shall forever illuminate the lives of all who had the privilege to know her.