DOROTHY ELAINE ACOSTA, 81, also known as Delaine, of Clermont, Florida, passed away December 17, 2013 at the Mike Conley Hospice House in Clermont. Dorothy Elaine Lamar was born Saturday, August 20th, 1932 in Washington DC., to Janvier Longstreet Lamar and Dorothy Morris Price. Growing up in the Canal Zone where her mother remarried and surname changed to Smith, she met her first husband Fred Rogers Saunders, whom she wed in 1951, divorced in 1978, and preceded in death in 1996. During their marriage, they had two children who she is survived by. Elaine later met and married Joseph F. Acosta in 1981. Sadly, Joseph passed away only two years later. Elaine worked for GTE, now Verizon, for close to 20 years. She held the position of Executive Secretary, Telephone Operator, and ultimately Field Engineer. Due to a desire to leave sunny California, Elaine took a chance at being a Long Distance Truck Driver. Starting this new career at age 59, she was a single woman whom should have been considering retirement plans, but did not. She held this new career for close to 10 years. Wanting to be closer to family, she moved near her daughter, Trish, and son-in-law, Rich, and continued to move each time they did. Living in Virginia, Texas, Arizona, then finally making it to Florida. Elaine enjoyed spending time with friends at her book club, playing cards, needle point, crochet, reading, crosswords and being with her family. As an avid seamstress for over 50 years, Elaine would always find the time to mend something if you needed it. Elaine is survived by daughter Patricia M. Benedict (Richard Benedetto) (FL), son Daniel P. Saunders (GA), daughter-in-law Lucinda Saunders (CA), three grandchildren; Dane, Malia, and Melissa Saunders (CA), and cousin Frederic H. Smith III (GA). Elaine is preceded by her younger half-brother Daniel Smith and half-sister Bonnie C. (McCabe) Smith.



The memorial service for Elaine Acosta will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Becker Funeral Home,