Elaine Frances Boutin

Elaine Frances Houy Boutin, 74, died Friday, June 17, 2016, at OSF Saint Anthony Hospital, taken too quickly from her loved ones after succumbing to cancer. Born September 25, 1941, in Rockford, Illinois, to Floyd and Evelyn Homrich Houy, she was the second oldest of five siblings, who enjoyed playing cowboys and Indians in the Rolling Green neighborhood. Elaine attended Lincoln Jr. High and East High School, graduated from Bishop Muldoon High School in 1959, and then graduated from St. Anthony School of Nursing. Nursing was her life’s work; she cared for residents at Cor Marie Center for twenty years and then taught CNAs at Rock Valley College. She was everything you would want your nurse or instructor to be—skilled, compassionate, accepting and blessed with a sparkling sense of humor. She was a member of a select group of reading tutors for third graders at King School, and a faithful member of Holy Family Church as well as the Catholic Women’s League. She took advantage of classes offered at Rock Valley’s Center for Learning in Retirement, and—together with her tutor buddies and/or her husband—became an expert on the best places for breakfast in Rockford. Her life’s love was her family. She was “Franny” to her husband, Roland (Rolly) Boutin, with whom she celebrated 53 years of marriage on June 15. The best moments were when Rolly was at the grill and she was making her famous Seven-Layer Salad for family cookouts in their beautiful backyard, nurtured by her green thumb and Rolly’s precise care. She is survived by her husband and three children, Lynn Boutin (Steve Dray), Bradenton, FL; Christine (Pete) Kneser, Valencia, CA; and Daniel (Jan) Boutin, Gilberts IL, and her grandchildren, Jessica and Michael Boutin. She will also be dearly missed by her siblings: Gary Houy, Colorado Springs, CO; Irene (James) Franzoni, Allansford, Victoria, AU; James Houy (Mary Pat Byrne), Chicago; and Mary Ann (Bob) Presman, Rockford; sister-in-law, Karin Hoffman, as well as her nieces and nephews and a close-knit group of cousins. There’s a hole in our hearts now, but the family wishes to thank Dr. Richard Nora and Penny Moore for their invaluable care, as well as the compassionate chemo staff at OSF Cancer Care Center. Funeral Mass at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Holy Family Catholic Church will be celebrated by Elaine’s cousin, The Most Reverend John R. Manz, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago. Interment will be held privately at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society. Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family. Extend online condolences at: www.fitzgeraldfh.com.