Elaine Felix Alei

On October 20th, 2024, Grace Elaine (Felix) Alei died peacefully in her sleep after a rich life dedicated to others. 

Born in Cleveland March 21, 1930, Elaine was a bright and curious child, leaving home after high school to attend Texas Tech where she received her degree in mathematics. She accepted a job at the newly public Los Alamos National Laboratory and worked as a programmer on some of the world’s first computers. She enjoyed her free time hiking, playing tennis and folk dancing where she met her future husband, chemist Mohammed Alei. Mo & Elaine were married in 1953 and gave birth to five children by early 1962.

Elaine left the lab in ‘54, devoted to raising her family and was super mom. Ahead of her time, her meals were always tasty and healthy with salad, protein, vegetables and homemade whole wheat bread. She also made yogurt and froze or canned the surplus of Mo’s prolific vegetable and fruit gardens.

Meanwhile, she and Mo instilled a love of the outdoors in their family through tennis, backpacking, skiing and hiking. They were also avid singers with the Los Alamos Light Opera, Choral Society and (later) in barbershop groups. In 1978, Elaine went back to the lab to work in data analysis until retiring in Albuquerque with Mo in 1988.

Elaine was the bedrock of her family, and leaves behind her devoted husband of 71 years (Mo), her five children (David, Robert, Philip, Mary, and Lawrence), their spouses, 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Everyone who knew Elaine was blessed by her spirit, selflessness, and enduring devotion. She will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Nature Conservancy.