Elaine E. (Hambrecht) Lukacs

Elaine E. Lukacs (nee: Hambrecht), age 79, passed away March 26, 2023.  Loving wife of 15 years to the late Raymond Sr.  Loving mother to Michael Lukacs, Edward Lukacs (Jennifer), Karen Lukacs-Greenway (Ralph, deceased), Joseph Lukacs (Sara) and Raymond "RJ" Lukacs Jr. (Kelly).  Beloved grandmother to Zoe Lukacs, Brendan Greenway, Annabelle Greenway, Penelope Greenway, Andrew Lukacs and Olivia Lukacs.  Sister to Linda Mortach (Jim) and Janet Mains (William).

Elaine grew up on Cleveland's west side and was the oldest of 3 children.  She attended Lincoln High School and went on to obtain a 4 year degree in Education from Heidelberg College.  Through all her years she always remained a loving, devoted school teacher at heart.  When time permitted, she would later go on to be a substitute teacher and work in the cafeteria at Regina High School.  

After her husband's unexpected passing in 1984, she took on the role of a full time stay at home mom to her 5 children.

The law of the land was "because I said so."  She was an extraordinarily strong woman who sacrificed tirelessly for her family.  Her children may not have had the nicest clothes or the latest gadgets of the time, but there was always food on the table and a roof over their heads.  

In a bygone era, she would make cupcakes and other treats on every one of her kid's birthdays that they could take in to school and share with their class on their special day.  Later, she would regularly go to her grandchildren's classrooms and make crafts or read stories with the children.  She gleamed with pride at the opportunity to do so.       

Her interests and talents included playing the violin, gardening, cake decorating, and crocheting.  Whenever she found out that someone was expecting a baby, she immediately got to work on crocheting a baby blanket for the newborn.  Then there was crafting.  No plastic cup, small jar or milk container could ever be thrown out in her presence.  In her eyes it was a future snowman or an Easter basket.  Her craft table was always loaded and her weapons of choice were her hot glue gun and her hole punch.  Her catchphrase was "creative people are messy."           

A devoted servant of Christ, she was a lifelong member at Tremont's Zion United Church of Christ on W. 14th.  It was the church where her father, Edward Hambrecht, was President for many years.   Elaine was a magnificent cook; a talent she shared with not just her family, but with those in need through the hunger center outreach program she helped create at Zion.  Over 40 years of doing so, she fed thousands of people in need.

She was extremely proud of her children and loved her grandchildren endlessly.  She also was an animal lover.  Until the end, she would sing "The Scrappy Song" about her beloved dog. 

Scrappy dappy doo

Scrappy dappy dee 

I love Scrappy and Scrappy loves me

Elaine will be greatly missed by all those who were lucky enough to have their lives touched by her presence.  While her family is heartbroken over her loss, they find peace in knowing that her pain and suffering is now over and that she has been reunited with her parents, her loving husband and all those that she loved and that left this world before her.

Memorial Service Friday, March 31, 2023, 1pm at A. Ripepi & Sons Funeral Home, 18149 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights (West of I-71).  The family will receive friends Friday, March 31 from 11am until time of service.  Inurnment Riverside Cemetery following Memorial Service.  In lieu of flowers family suggests donations may be made to Zion United Church of Christ, 2700 West 14th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113.  SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO A. RIPEPI & SONS FUNERAL HOME, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS (WEST OF I-71).

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