In loving memory of Elaine Teresa Florio Alexander

Obituary

Elaine Florio Alexander, “Lainie” 54, died peacefully on December 13, 2021. Lainie was born on August 10, 1967, in Rockland County, NY. She attended elementary school, first at Eldorado Elementary School in Chestnut Ridge, NY, but later transferred to St. Anthony’s School in Nanuet, NY. Lainie graduated from Albertus Magnus High School in Bardonia, NY and went on to attend Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY where she studied English. At Hofstra, Lainie met her loving, future husband, Michael Alexander. They married in 1994, lived briefly in Pennsylvania and eventually relocated to Daytona Beach, FL in 1995 where, in 2001, they welcomed their only child into the world, their daughter, Christina Grace Alexander. In the fall of 2020, Lainie and her husband purchased a new home in New Smyrna Beach, FL that she decorated warmly and to which she welcomed many. Lainie worked for years as a buyer for Food Supply in Port Orange. She later changed careers and was employed by Delaware North Gaming as a poker dealer at the Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club where she worked for seventeen years.

Lainie will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, niece, friend, pet owner, mentor and patriot and she was, by anyone’s standards, entirely selfless, generous, intelligent, creative and kind. She uniquely and meaningfully touched the lives of all who knew her. She was the organizer, planner and host of countless events and family gatherings and a gracious provider of food, love, laughter, gifts and care for all of her guests. Lainie’s legacy will be vast. Her wisdom, wit, patience and compassion for others are irreplaceable and her spirit was the brightest wherever she went. She was a nonsmoker and her untimely, unforeseen passing following a brief and difficult, but valiant battle with lung cancer rendered this world a remarkably smaller place. There is now a void in the lives of those who loved her most, but the heavens gained an angel. Lainie’s life was the silver lining to her family and friends. It is said that “silver linings can disappear, but they always shine” and Lainie’s love and spirit will forever shine on the lives of all who loved her.

Lainie served for thirteen years as a Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 439. She was also active in Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church Youth Group and the Daytona Playhouse for many years. Lainie is predeceased by her mother Patricia A. Florio and is survived by her husband Michael Alexander, daughter Chrissy Alexander, father Michael T. Florio, brother Michael C. Florio, brother Gregg Florio and brother Russ Florio. Services for Lainie will be held at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, Port Orange, Florida on January 7, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation or Halifax Hospice.

Baldwin Brothers New Smyrna Beach has been entrusted.