Elmyra Gainsborough

Elmyra Gainsborough (エルミナ・ゲインズブール) is the adoptive mother of Aerith Gainsborough in Final Fantasy VII.

Final Fantasy VII
In Elmyra's past her husband was drafted into the Shinra Electric Power Company military during the Wutai War, and was killed just before he was slated to go on leave. While waiting for her husband at the Sector 7 train station before receiving letter from Shinra informing her of his death, she discovered Aeris with her dying mother, Ifalna, who begged her to protect Aeris before passing away.

Elmyra cared for Aeris and protected her from harm. She noticed Aeris's strange powers when Aeris said she knew Elmyra's husband had died before notification from Shinra arrived, but did not talk about them often to keep Aeris from becoming afraid.

Elmyra is first seen at her house in the slums, where the player learns of Aeris's past and she looks after Marlene after the Sector 7 plate falls. Reeve decides to place Elmyra and Marlene in hiding and the two spend much of the story in Kalm; Elmyra and Marlene are locked away and the player cannot see them, and Elmyra does not have much of a part in the story after this. Reeve brings her the news of Aeris's death later on.

On the Way to a Smile
Elmyra is mentioned in the Case of Tifa. After the events of Final Fantasy VII Cloud, Tifa, and Barret visit Elmyra and Marlene in Kalm. Elmyra makes clear she does not blame them for Aerith's death. Elmyra is one of the clients of Cloud Strife's delivery service; she wants a bouquet brought to the Forgotten Capital.