Elaine Mackenzie Wulf

Elaine Wulf passed away quietly on January 6, 2014 in Highlands Ranch at the age of 79. She was born in Oak Park, Illinois and was baptized at Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church. Elaine grew up in Winnetka, Illinois, attended New Trier High School and was graduated from Northwestern University at the age of 20 with BA degrees in both Political Science and Spanish. In her early career, she worked for such companies as Leo Burnett and Booz Allen. She also worked for Britanica translating English encyclopedias into Spanish. Additionally, she taught English at the University of Puerto Rico. The job she loved the most though was being an international flight attendant for Pan Am working throughout Latin and South America. She loved flashing her ""Pan Am"" smile her whole life. On August 29, 1959 she married Charles F. Wulf Jr. who had previously served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Coral Sea aircraft carrier. Elaine was quite active in politics with the Republican Party in Deerfield, Illinois and was a tireless volunteer for numerous charitable and civic organizations throughout her 25 years there. Fulfilling a lifelong dream of living in the Rocky Mountains she loved, Elaine and her family moved to Englewood, Colorado in 1984. Here, Elaine worked as a travel agent focusing on group and corporate travel. Among her favorite assignments was working on the annual reunion for the crew members of the storied USS Enterprise. She never truly stopped working and in her later years was active in the Gleneagles community in Highlands Ranch where she lived. Elaine was well known for her extraordinary culinary talents, superior gardening skills, voracious reading habits, love of sports and the ability to host a marvelous dinner party. Among her great passions was international travel as she could never learn and experience enough about the world she loved to explore. Elaine is preceded in death by her husband Charles who passed away in January, 1989; her brother Malcolm Mackenzie; and her parents Colin & Florence Mackenzie. She is survived by her brother, Bruce Mackenzie of Greenwood Village, her son Douglas Wulf of Denver and daughter, Deanne Frederickson of Highlands Ranch. Elaine adored her 4 grandchildren Conor, Kate, Kelly and Laurie who loved to laugh and play with their Grandma. One of Elaine's favorite sayings to her grandchildren who were mesmerized by grandma's cooking, was ""A day without cookies, is like a day without sunshine"" Her cookies, laughter, intellect, work ethic, teasing and love of life always brought out the sunshine. She will be missed by all. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 1:00pm at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road (One block west of Holly Street) in Centennial. Memorial contributions may be made in Elaine's honor to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 7951 E. Maplewood Ave., Ste. 126, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 or online at www.wish.org. Please share your memories of Elaine and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook.