ELAINE M. JOSEPH Oct. 29, 1946 – Aug. 20, 2023
Elaine Mildred Joseph passed away Aug. 20, 2023 at her home in Denver, CO. She lived her very full life with many friends and family by her side.
Elaine was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA to Louis and Evelyn (Shafer) Shellhamer. She spent most of her youth growing up in Piscataway, NJ with her two brothers Raymond and Ronald Shellhamer.
She acquired the nickname Shelly while attending Valparaiso University and primarily went by Shelly after that to all but her New Jersey family and friends.
Shelly met her husband Richard Joseph in Washington, DC while finishing up her studies for her degree in Medical Technology. They were married in 1970 and went on to raise three children, Mara, Margaret and Benjamin. The family made multiple moves around the country before settling in Los Alamos, NM. She was also fulfilled by her career as a Medical Technologist and retired from Los Alamos Medical Center. She then moved to Denver to be closer to family.
During her life, Shelly had multiple interests and passions. She was skilled at sewing, knitting and crocheting. She developed a love for horses and enjoyed riding and just spending time around them. Shelly enjoyed baking and cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Her capacity for kindness and support was well loved and she was always ready with encouragement and a wise word for anyone in need. Perhaps one of her greatest joys in life was her role as a Grandma (Gobby).
Shelly is survived by her children, Mara and her husband John Salinas; Margaret and her husband Joe Badalpour and Benjamin and his wife Megan Joseph; brothers Raymond and his wife Barbara Shellhamer and Ronald Shelhammer as well as her grandchildren, Sebastian, Noah, Benjamin, Amelia, Samuel, William, Evelyn, Helen and Alexander.
