Elva Charlene (Post / Demerjian) Houlden was welcomed into the arms of our Lord on September 28 at the age of 91.
Elva was born November 25, 1931 in the town of Presque Isle, Maine to the late Vena (MacDonald) and Charles Post. She was the second of six children. As a youngster, her family moved to Boston, MA and eventually settled in Medford, MA where she attended middle school and high school. The Post family was active in their local church, First Community United Methodist.
Through the various church group activities she met Paul Demerjian. They hit it off famously and were wed in 1952. They welcomed four sons over the years. Elva and Paul remained active in their church and enjoyed many years in the “Couples Club”.
Once her boys were in school, Elva went to work at a transportation company where she earned the position of office manager. Computers were introduced to her company and she took the helm in learning how to use them and teach the staff. She retired from the transportation company in 1992.
Elva was instrumental in helping to develop the ‘Dragon’ speech recognition software. Elva tweaked the program with data entry to enhance the speech-to-type process. With her affinity for learning and sharing, she taught computer classes at the Senior Center in Andover, MA and later at the Senior Center in York, ME.
Tragedy struck when Paul met an untimely death in 1994. Deeply saddened, Elva kept her faith, and continued her life journey. She had remained friends with many folks from the Couples Club. Through friends acquainted with the Couples Club, she met Bob Houlden who was also widowed. With Elva’s winning smile and Bob’s outgoing personality, they soon became a couple. Elva and Bob married in 1999 and enjoyed 21 years of marriage. Her family was extended to include three more children and their spouses along with granchildren. Elva and Bob traveled and became snowbirds spending time in Florida and living their summers in Maine. In their later years, they settled into an elderly community in Beverly, MA. Sadly, Bob passed away in 2020.
Elva once again counted on her faith, and fostered many friendships in her independent living community. She joined a group and enjoyed playing quiddler, checkers, and cards. She was upbeat and encouraging to all that she encountered. Elva was often entertained with jokes by her good friends in this elderly community adding laughter to the dinner table and hallways. Elva’s dinner table fun was the envy of many.
Elva continued to use technology well into her advanced age. She was texting and participating in social media at 91! Elva was always willing to share her knowledge and smiles with everyone.
In addition to her husbands, Paul Demerjian and Bob Houlden, Elva was predeceased by her younger siblings Audrey Pride, Verdell (Sonny) and Charlie Post . Elva is survived by her sons Paul Demerjian and his wife Anne, John Demerjian and his wife Lisa, Jim Demerjian and his wife Michelle, David Demerjian, Debbye Barrett and her husband Steve, David Houlden and his partner Jim Ryan and Deanna Cousens and her husband Mike. Elva also leaves behind her sisters Winona Hachey and Christine Gauthier. She had ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Special thanks to the caring medical staff at CareDimensions, especially Jessica, Caitlin and Cecelia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salvation Army, a favorite organization of Elva’s.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at Beals, Geake, and Magliozzi Funeral Home, 29 Governors Ave. Medford, followed by a graveside service at Oak Grove Cemetery. online condolences may be shared at www.magliozzifuneralhome.com