Elaine Marie McKean

Elaine Marie McKean (nee Harry), 77, passed away on February 19, 2025, surrounded by her family in Milwaukee, WI, after a short battle with lung cancer. She was the beloved wife of J. Thomas McKean for 51 years.

Elaine was born in La Oroya, Peru, on April 29, 1947, to Desmond and Helen Harry. She was always proud of her birthplace and that she learned Spanish abroad at a young age. The family moved back to the United States when she was five years old, eventually settling in Warren, Ohio, where she graduated from Howland High School.

In 1966, during her first year at Youngstown State University, Elaine started her 40-year career with a temporary teacher’s license at St. Mary's in Warren. In 1970 she joined the Catholic Extension missionary program where she not only taught in Silver City, N.M., and El Paso, Texas, but also met her husband, Tom. They were married on July 7, 1973, and raised their four children in Milwaukee. 

While a full-time mom supporting the family at home, Elaine taught religious education at St. Therese in Milwaukee. Later, she was a dedicated fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at St. Florian School in West Milwaukee, and taught at St. Rose of Lima School in Milwaukee before retiring in 2007. Elaine truly enjoyed teaching science, Spanish, and art.

She enjoyed playing and watching tennis, cooking for loved ones, tending to her garden and flowers, and traveling, especially to beaches. Her faith was also an important part of her life and she and Tom were devoted parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish for over 30 years. 

Elaine is survived by her loving husband, J. Thomas McKean; her children, Jeff (Lori) McKean, Greg (Traci) McKean, Becky (Michael) King, and Shelley (Eder) Aguirre; brother, Paul (Ruth) Harry; sister, Joan (Nick) Kerosky; sister-in-law, Nora Harry; and longtime friend and sister-in-law, Roseann McKean. She was a cherished grandmother to her nine grandchildren: Benn and Adam McKean, Emma and Violet McKean, Jacob and Lucas King, and Charlotte, William, and Elliott Aguirre. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Desmond and Helen Harry; her brother, Fred Harry; and her nephew, Fred Harry, Jr.

To celebrate Elaine’s life, a Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, March 3, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 3722 S. 58th St., Milwaukee. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.