We are saddened to share the passing of our dear friend and beloved former volunteer, Elaine Kuper, who died Sept. 26, 2023, at the age of 100. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Oct. 8 at Congregation Beth Israel Memorial Garden – click here for more information.
Elaine, who celebrated her 100th birthday last November, was the epitome of a dedicated volunteer who truly lived and breathed Texas Children’s Hospital. Originally from Buffalo, New York, she moved to Houston when she was 12 and began volunteering just two weeks after we opened our doors in 1954. With every passing day, Elaine grew more and more in love with our patients and their families – and in return, they grew more in love with her.
“I just loved being with people,” Kuper told USA Today in a touching story they produced earlier this year to commemorate her life of service. “It’s the best. There’s no hospital like [Texas Children’s].”
Elaine was a charter member of The Auxiliary to Texas Children’s Hospital and completed over 18,000 volunteer hours in her lifetime. She spent 61 incredible years as a volunteer and was a mainstay at the information desk for over 45 years. She enrolled in Spanish lessons to help navigate Spanish-speaking families around the hospital, and also assisted with mail delivery and facility tours. The Volunteer Services suite was named in her honor at her retirement celebration in 2015.
“I consider it a blessing to have known such a giving, dedicated and purely genuine person,” said President and CEO Mark A. Wallace of Elaine’s passing.
Elaine taught us all what it means to care for others selflessly. She will be deeply missed by all of us here at Texas Children’s, and our thoughts are with her family and close friends.