A. Elaine Gosselin
Sept. 22,1928 – June 5, 2024

Elaine Gosselin was born September 22, 1928 and raised in Eureka, where she attended Lincoln Elementary School through Eureka High, graduating from EHS in 1946. Elaine spent most summers growing up, helping her Aunt Irma cook for ranch hands at the Sunny Basin Ranch in Bridgeville. This was during WWII, and Elaine learned a lot from her aunt in addition to cooking & baking – like how to make meals stretch, the value of a dollar, as well as vegetable gardening.

After graduating Eureka High, Elaine worked in the office for Brizard-Matthews Machinery Company. In 1948, Elaine married Tony Gosselin and together they built a life, which included lots of hard work. Tony spent long hours at the tire business, Tony Gosselin & Sons’, and Elaine ran an in-home daycare while raising their own three girls and three boys. Later, they would discover a love for RV’ing and spent their retirement years on the road, traversing the entire U.S., being gone months at a time.

Elaine started several family traditions that will live on: the annual siblings camping trip every summer; the “birthday lunches” with the girls; the Gosselin Family Christmas reunion; and, waving good-bye each and every time one of her visitors left (initially, on her front porch and later, from the living room window). This wave good-bye over the years has been nicknamed “The Elaine Wave.”

Her love of nature, visiting and laughing over a good card game, and her devotion to her family were uniquely embedded in her wonderfully energetic and lively spirit. Indeed, she had many special traits, including letter writing. She was so thoughtful and always thanked you either with a phone call or note, or both. She was the beloved matriarch of the Gosselin family and will be deeply missed.

Elaine’s parents, Norton and Blanche Johnson; her sister, Mildred Harper; brother Arthur E. Johnson; grandson, Bryan Hubbard; husband, A. J. ‘Tony’ Gosselin, Jr; and, son-in-law, Peter Presnell, preceded her in death.

Elaine is survived by her six children, Ann Gosselin, Steve (Betsy) Gosselin, Paul (Melanie) Gosselin, Marie (Dave) Eberhardt, Terrie (Dan) Cruz, and Joe (Sherrie) Gosselin; and, grandchildren, Chad (Kari) Gosselin, Angie (Paul) Ubaldi, Chris (Suji) Shobert; Sara (Casey) Cassidy, Amy (Huna) Borden, Matt Eberhardt, Marc (Sara) Eberhardt, Sara Farley, Jacob Eberhardt, Shane Gosselin, Shannon (Ted) Alves, Travis (Shanae) Gosselin, Crystal (Jeff) Mayberry, Will (Brianne) Morgan, Kenny Cruz, Katie (Shawn) Maples, Cody (Nikki) Cruz, Jenae (Doug) Alves, and TJ Gosselin; as well as thirty great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and numerous other family members and friends who lovingly called her by her nickname, “Grandma Goose.”

The Gosselin family is deeply grateful for the years of attentive, loving care Elaine received from her caretakers, Reina and Mike Earhart, who made the last years of Elaine’s life as comfortable as they possibly could be.

To honor Elaine’s wishes, there will be no services.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Elaine Gosselin’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.