FORT EDWARD – On October 12, 2023, our family said goodbye for now to a wonderful, strong woman. Dorothy Elaine Gilman was 97 years old and was born on July 3, 1926 to the late Francis Fayette Dingman and Dorothy Elizabeth (Kirby) Dingman. One of six children, Elaine, as she was known by all, grew up in South Glens Falls.
In 1946, she married Arthur Allen Gilman. She was the one who proposed, and fortunately he said yes! Arthur passed away in 2001 at the age of 84. Together, they had four daughters. Elaine was a stay-at-home mom until she graduated from Nursing School in 1971 as an LPN and started working at the Glens Falls Hospital.
She was the best wife, mom, and grandmother and many wonderful memories were made in the house we all grew up in. She loved all of her children and grandchildren very much. Her grandchildren affectionately called her Grammoo.
Besides her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by her daughter, Colleen Gilman Eldred; her brothers, Richard Dingman and Frank Dingman; her sisters, Claire Wadleigh and Martha Dickinson; a special cousin, June Corentto; sisters in law, Carol Dingman, Ann Dingman, and Shirley Dingman, Polly Harvey, and Eleanor Viger; brothers in law, Sheridan and William (Waddy) Gilman, Fred Viger, John Dickinson, and Harry Wadleigh; her mother in law and father in law, Wiliam (Winky) Gilman and Anna Mae (Rozell) Gilman; and sons in law, Robert Eldred, Sr., Ronnie Naatz, and Richard Lane, Sr.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Alecia Naatz, Karen McKinney (Frank), and Janine Gilman (Kevin Alden); her brother, Ron Dingman; her fourteen grandchildren, Lisa (Eldred) Mastrangelo (Pete), Terry Eldred (Robin), Tracie Eldred (Jason), Robert Eldred, Terri Kingsley (Eric), Heather Naatz (Alton), Lonnie Naatz (Nicole), Rick Lane (Margaret), Mindy Lane (Mike), Robert Lane (Erin), Christine Lane, Corrine Lane Smith, Stacie (LeBlanc) Wozniak (Adam), and Shawna Anderson (Rob); She is also survived by 32 great-grandchildren, 18 great-great-grandchildren (with one on the way), and many, many nieces and nephews. Elaine had a very special bond with her great-great-granddaughter, Karlee, who visited her often and will miss her dearly.
Friends may call from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.
A service will follow the calling hours, 12:30 p.m., at the funeral home.
Elaine will be laid to rest with her husband, Arthur, at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, following the funeral services.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the S Wing staff at Fort Hudson Nursing Home. We came to love you like family. You know who you are! A very special thank you also to the wonderful team of nurses from The Community Hospice who helped care for Elaine.
As the mom of one of her great-grandchildren (Paige Lane) I have know Elaine for all of 30 yrs and have known no one like her. She was a beautiful, kind woman and she will be missed by many. My heart goes out to all the family.
I’ll never forget her…she was loved by many. Rest In Peace
My heartfelt condolences to Elaine’s family & my sincere sympathies for your loss. Both Art and Elaine had an incredible ability to make you feel welcomed in their home. Hospitality is a gift! Elaine’s kitchen the hub, the coffee always on and great conversations would flow. With lots of laughter! Keeping uou all in my thoughts and prayers.