Raeann J. (Dinardi) Mcelveen

Brooklyn – Raeann J. Dinardi McElveen, 37, of Brooklyn, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at her residence. She was born in Albany and is the beloved daughter of Thomas P. and Cynthia Tomlinson Dinardi.

Raeann was a 1998 graduate of Shenendehowa High School where she was cheerleading captain, Homecoming Queen, member of Student Senate, and Senior Class Secretary. She loved dancing and actively participated on the Competition Dance Team at Eleanor’s School of Dance. In 2002, Raeann graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. While attending Syracuse, she served as President of Delta Delta Delta sorority. After graduation she moved to Brooklyn to join the New York City Teaching Fellows and completed a Masters degree in Special Education at City College. She spent nine years teaching at The Children’s School, an elementary school in Park Slope. She left to become a founding teacher at Millennium Brooklyn High School and went on to earn a second Masters in school leadership from Bank Street College. Most recently,  Raeann was the Special Education Coordinator, ASD Nest coach, and lower house Humanities chairperson, as well as a 12th grade advisor.  In her spare time Raeann enjoyed coaching cheerleading at MBHS and teaching graduate students at Hunter College and LIU Brooklyn.

Raeann was the precious daughter of Cynthia L. Tomlinson Dinardi and Thomas P. Dinardi, Jr. She was the mother of Raymond Frank McElveen and wife of Kevin F. McElveen.  She was the beloved sister of Brenda M. Dickinson, and Erika L, Thomas J, Bryan T, Adrienne D, and Alex Dinardi.  Raeann was the granddaughter of Jean A. Tomlinson and her namesake the late Raymond F. Tomlinson Sr. She was the Goddaughter of Raymond F. Jr. and Mary Jo Tomlinson.  She is also survived by nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be Saturday morning at 9:30 at Historic St. Mary’s Church on Capitol Hill, 10 Lodge Street, Albany where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Raeann’s family on Friday from 5 to 8 pm at Cannon Funeral Home, 2020 Central Ave, Colonie.  The Rite of Committal will be at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands.  To leave a message of condolence for the family or to order flowers, visit www.CannonFuneral.com