Obituary of Elaine Ann Herald

Elaine Ann Herald passed away in her home on September 25, 2020. Survived by her husband, John W. Jordan, IV and daughter, Katharine V. Jordan (wife, Jessie Sue Holmquist). Preceded in death by her parents, Charles W. Herald and Elizabeth Fagan Herald, and her daughter, Margaret Ann Jordan. Also survived by her older sisters, Mary Elizabeth Herald, Katherine Herald Walsh (husband, James Leo Walsh); younger sister, Nancy Herald Gates (husband, John Paul Gates); as well as her nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Lucia Walsh (Dan Koczur), Sara Walsh Cook (Chris Cook), Charles William Gates, Lawrence Michael Gates, James Dennis Gates; great-niece and nephew, Bridget and Richard Cook. Also many cousins from the Herald, Miller, Fagan, McBride, Harrington, Gent, Durham, Donovan, Sawin, Conroy, Nugent, Hoar, and O'Brien branches of the family. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Elaine graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1965, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio University in 1969. In 1975, she graduated from Duquesne Law School and was admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She was admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court in 1978. She practiced Family Law in Allegheny County. An outgoing and friendly woman who enjoyed many pursuits and loved bringing people together, she was active in organizations supporting women's issues, equality, and social justice. She was active in her community, including as a Democratic County Committee Woman and with the Pittsburgh Public Schools in the 80's and 90's. Throughout her life Elaine enjoyed knitting, making beautiful gifts for friends and family from yarn, and in life bringing together the people she met in her many activities and amazing creations crafted with humor, intelligence and care. She pulled together many threads to create an intricate pattern of political activism, women's empowerment, religious exploration and advocacy, educational activities, bridge games, family reunions and party planning. She was a former President of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fox Chapel Area and Chair of the AAUW Bridge Group allowing her to play bridge and enjoy great company several days a week. Raised Catholic, she advocated for the ordination of women, studied other religious denominations and explored faith in many ways. Knitting wasn't a solitary activity either, Elaine was chair of Women in Stitches and actively shared the skill, teaching others to knit, attending and organizing conferences and helped with Knit the Bridge in 2013. For Elaine, family was a participant sport. She maintained contact with distant cousins across the country. Keeping track of cousins and cousin's uncle's grandparents, and expressing that relationship accurately. She planned epic reunions and threw great parties where you were as likely to meet a distant relative for the first time as you were to see familiar faces. She enjoyed traveling to see people and to reconnect; by train whenever possible. Keeping Elaine's spirit alive can be done by being active, making friends and supporting organizations working for justice, equality and change such as: Women's Ordination Conference, the AAUW, or organizations to make your community better. Friends received at MCCABE BROS. INC. FUNERAL HOME, 6214 Walnut Street, Shadyside on Sunday, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Allegheny County requires masks, social distancing and a limit of 25 persons in the funeral home at one time. Condolences may be left at www.mccabebrothers.com