Elaine Jean (Marchant) Ciancio died Dec. 19 at her home in Vineyard Haven, due to complications from a 54-year battle with multiple sclerosis. She was 72.

She was born in Oak Bluffs on May 22, 1948, to Lloyd P. and Frances (Campbell) Marchant. She grew up in Vineyard Haven and attended the Tisbury School and the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, graduating in 1966.

She married Michael Ciancio of Oak Bluffs. Since the MS made it impossible for her to work, she was a homemaker and stay-at-home mother to their two daughters.

Before becoming bed bound due to the effects of her illness, she enjoyed cake decorating, sewing, singing and dancing.

She loved her Island home and was proud to have been a native Islander. She always had a childlike excitement for Christmas morning and enjoyed seeing her grandchildren.

She carried a positive and strong attitude through the years by allowing herself no more than 10 minutes a day to feel upset or sad about having MS. She said nothing was going to change. She always wore lipstick, whether she was home or out — her brand was Love That Pink by Revlon.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Michael; daughters Jocelyn Broadley and her husband Shawn of Oak Bluffs, Marilyn Fuller and her husband Gregory of Fredericksburg, Va.; her sister, Judith A. Pachico of Vineyard Haven; four grandchildren, Garrett Broadley, Grace, Hope and Samuel Fuller; and her lifelong best friend Patricia Lawrence of Edgartown.

Elaine is now at peace. Her family likes to think of her doing those things that the MS took away from her: decorating cakes, sewing clothes and crafts, singing songs and dancing like crazy. And yes, she left the house Saturday night wearing Love That Pink lipstick.

Services will be held at a later time.

Donations can be made to: VNA of Cape Cod-Hospice, 255 Independence Drive, Hyannis, MA 02601; or Horizons Geriatric Care Management, P.O. Box 1105, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.