Elsa E. Stefely (nee Canuti), age 93 passed away peacefully, September 26, 2020. She was born in Chicago, September 17, 1927 to Lorenzo and Marie Canuti (Capetty). She married her beloved Louis in June of 1951, and together they added 5 to the boomer generation. They settled in Edison Park, became active in their church, the school and their community. They built new friendships, strengthened existing ones and their family thrived under their guidance.
Elsa’s life was an example to others. With her vivacious personality and warm temperament, she made friends wherever she went. Her door was always open and the coffee was always ready for anyone who needed her strength - to talk, to ask advice, or to just be loved. She was the rock within her family and her community.
Family was number one, and she made sure those relations stayed strong across both her core and extended family. Always the first to offer support,she was a cherished friend to many, maintaining close ties with school chums as well as with friends made during her working and retirement years.
Elsa’s hands were rarely still. She passed her love of literature, art, history and preparing culinary masterpieces on to her children. She organized parties and gatherings with family, friends, neighbors and her church family. She took pride in personalizing special occasions. Everyone looked forward to Elsa’s distinctive, themed birthday cakes, handcrafted Halloween costumes - as well as her creepy, neighborhood, haunted house - and her amazing holiday delicacies.
Elsa was preceded in death by her cherished husband, partner and best friend Lou in 2003, and her precious daughter Elaine (Chris) Berglund in 2017. She is the loving and devoted mother of Joanne Heintz, Louis (Jill) Stefely, James (Nancy) Stefely and Claire (Dale) Ault.
She treasured her role as grandmother, embracing every moment she could with Christine (Keith) Cooper, Julie (Matt) Vanderville, Christopher Berglund, Jason (Candice) Stefely, Ryan (Christie) Heintz, Kevin Heintz and Deborah (Sean Cossentino) Berglund.
She is the proud great-grandmother of 12 and a dear cousin and aunt to many.
We are all so grateful to Elsa for all she was and for all she taught us. She touched the lives of those blessed to have been in her wide and embracing circle. We laughed with her, cried with her and we all will miss her quick wit and playful humor.
We will never forget you, Mom, your infectious laugh and beautiful smile will forever remain in our hearts. We love you!