It is with heavy hearts that the family of Elaine Carol Chomitsa, age 76, announce her quiet passing in the early hours of Monday February 2, 2026, at the Dryden Regional Hospital.
As the youngest of Harry and Nellie Chomitsa’s three daughters, Elaine was born and raised in Dryden Ontario. There she attended both elementary school and high school, and during her teen years she enjoyed being a member of the DHS volleyball team and travelling for tournaments. After graduation and during her early adult years Elaine worked and moved between Dryden and Thunder Bay, at one point even living with her sister Mary-Anne, husband Wil and their growing family for awhile. Craving some adventure, one day Elaine and a close friend decided to take a memorable trip to Europe. Sometime after returning to Canada, she relocated to Mississauga, Ontario where she worked at Pearson Airport as a car rental agent for several years. While living in Mississauga, when was not at home with her beloved orange tabby cat, Charlie, she would regularly spend time visiting her sister Linda, husband Tom, and their two children. She became such an important presence in the children’s lives, always around for special occasions, sometimes babysitting them or even picking them up from school in her big red and white Monte Carlo.
In 1989, Elaine moved back home to Dryden to help her father manage, run and maintain the Chomitsa Trailer Park, which Harry had built from the ground up so many years before. She also helped her mother, Nellie, keep the main household running, going for errands and doing what was needed. Years later when Harry retired and sold the trailer park, Elaine and her parents moved to a little house within town. The three of them would often travel to visit family and took road trips whenever they could. Sadly, it was during one of these fateful trips that Harry suffered a massive stroke. Unable to return home, Harry was moved to a long-term care home in Kenora where Elaine and her mother Nellie drove back and forth to visit him as often as they could. Thankfully, Harry was eventually able to be transferred back to Dryden to live in Patricia Gardens, a senior assisted living complex. This allowed Elaine to visit her father on a more regular basis and she became a constant source of help and support to him. At home, Elaine tried her best to maintain her relationship and caregiving role with her mother as well, until Nellie’s health declined to the point where she too needed to move into Patricia Gardens. Within the next year and a half, it was there that both Nellie and Harry lived out their final days, and Elaine’s role as a dedicated daughter and caregiver came to an end.
One thing Elaine always enjoyed was the freedom of the open road. As such, after the passing of her parents, she often took trips to visit extended family within Ontario and Manitoba. Whether it was for weddings, funerals, general visits just because, or even to be there to help after her sister Linda’s numerous surgeries, Elaine was eager to hit the road and make memories with loved ones. Regardless of her own personal struggles, Elaine tried her best to be helpful to others. She was especially proud of her Ukrainian heritage, and she loved her family dearly. Over the years she made it a point to always acknowledge special occasions. Sending cards and gifts and making phone calls to let family members know she was thinking of them. She was diligent in keeping records of important dates and making sure pieces of family history were maintained. Elaine regularly enjoyed getting out and about in the community, saying hello and stopping for a quick chat when running into pretty much anyone she knew. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, listening to music, reading the Newspapers, and visiting with several close neighbors and their pets. Although Elaine didn’t have any pets of her own, she absolutely loved animals. She was especially fond of observing local birds and wildlife and hearing funny or heartfelt animal stories shared to her on phone calls with her niece, Karen.
In her final years Elaine lived a very simple life, and despite her private nature and headstrong qualities, she was always so appreciative of any kindness, help or thoughtful gesture from others. Her little family that is left to mourn her passing is eternally grateful to those people as well.
Elaine is survived by her nieces and nephew: Cheryl Tabor-Campbell (Paul), Kelly Tabor-Bailey (George), Karen Tabor and Brian Tabor, as well as numerous cousins spread throughout the provinces. She will also be remembered and missed by a handful of friends and long-time acquaintances within the Dryden community.
She is predeceased by her parents: Harry and Nellie Chomitsa of Dryden, ON, her sister Mary-Ann Tabor (Wilbert) of Thunder Bay, ON, and her sister Linda Tabor (Thomas) of Mississauga, ON.
A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Dryden Community Funeral Home with Jamie Miller officiating.
Should friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Elaine to the Second Chance Network, Box 343, Dryden, ON, P8N 2Z1, or Northern Critters in Need, Box 1023, Ignace, ON, P0T 1T0
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