Elaine Cradle

Elaine Nicole Cradle (Niki) was born on August 11, 1974, at 1:08 pm on a Monday afternoon at
Hillcrest Hospital, Jamacia Queens, New York. She entered into the world at a bouncing 7lbs,
20inches.
Niki grew up in a happy home environment, always surrounded by family, holidays, and
family time days with friends and family who loved her passionately. She grew up along
with her mother in the home of her great-grandma and great-grandpa, she was the STAR of
the household.
Niki loved school once she started. She was always excited and ready to get to school, but
yet never ready to leave in the afternoon. She was awarded certificates every year for perfect
attendance, along with Outstanding Academic Achievements. One of her elementary school
teachers: Mrs. Lamby created projects so Niki could stay with her after school, which Niki
was very happy to do. She attended (elementary, middle, and high schools) in Corona,
Jackson Heights, Flushing area of Queens, New York until she began college. She loved
reading and researching no matter the topic or how many chapters she had to read, she
always loved learning. Niki always stressed the power and importance of acquiring a good
education. She spoke fluent Spanish, which the class was offered to her in 3rd grade and she
had many Spanish-speaking friends. At 5 years old Niki said to her mother ”Mommie, I want

to go to college” and she didn’t stop until she accomplished and completed her college educa-
tion, never letting anything get in her way or distract her from her dream and her goals. Niki

attended John Jay University for a year, only because it was her great grandma’s idea for
her to become a doctor. Niki finally convinced her mother to talk her grandma out of that idea,

she didn’t want to be a doctor; grandma agreed surprisingly. She then attended Queensboro-
ough Community College in Queens, NY, where she graduated and received an Associates

Degree in Sociology and Psychology. Then she attended Hunter College in Manhattan, NY,
where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Psychology.
Besides loving people her passions were drawing, painting, dancing, writing poetry, and
reading, especially about animals( loved cats and dogs). In her early teens, she began
collecting snails that would come out from the cracks of the sidewalk near her home in
Corona, Queens. She said she was saving their lives so people would not step on them and
crush them. Actually, she had a large collection of them that she was able to keep hidden from
her grandma for a long time until a few escaped from the make

-shift home they were in and
grandma found them crawling up the wall of Niki’s bedroom. She took most to a safe place
and let them go, but she kept a couple which she brought with her to South Carolina one year
while vacationing. She placed them in a jewelry box so they could travel undetected on the
airplane. She explained to me how she would soak pieces of bread and twirl it on the tip of a
toothpick and call their names and they would come out the shell to eat... she showed me
and sure enough, they came out to eat once she called their names...True Story.
Niki was able to obtain mostly all the jobs she applied for, which were mostly office/clerical
type work in the medical or home healthcare division. Once she worked in the NYC courts as
a children’s liaison for an internship position. In may 1999 her great-grandma passed away,
but during great-grandma's failing health, Niki witnessed the excellent service the care nurses
gave to her great-grandma. It was then she decided she would take training in the CNA field/
home health care profession. She stayed in that profession for several years working at
different agencies that offered her the challenge of caring for those that could not care for them
-
selves. Each of her clients has spoken highly of the compassion, care, and delightful
personality Niki possessed. Niki’s heart melted for elderly people and children

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

Elaine “Niki” Cradle, 46, of Bronx, New York made her transition at her residence. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at the Hardeeville City Hall at 11:00 AM 205 Main St. Hardeeville

Professional service is in the care of Legacy Funeral Home

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