Elva D. Robert

On September 8th, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Elva Robert was the second born of six children to Mercedes and Felix Hubbard. From an early age she showed courage, tenacity and spunk. She was an amazing child who would not allow difficult circumstances to break her spirit. Coming of age during the depression, she learned valuable lessons early in life. Elva received her education in the Catholic school system where she challenged the nuns when she felt she was being mistreated. Even as a youngster, she didn't take no stuff.

Elva was also wise beyond her years and she became a neighborhood and family historian. She knew every thing and everybody. When you had Elva, you didn't need the yellow pages. While visiting her beloved sister Velma who had moved from New Orleans to California, Elva decided that she too would relocate to California. When she informed her true love Peter Robert that there were more job opportunities in California, he too decided to move to California. Soon after his arrival, the two were married on July 26th, 1947. To this union was born, Nathalie, the oldest and only girl, Peter, Jr. And Lance.

As a wife and mother, Elva was second to none. She was passionate about taking care of her family and she nurtured and cared for both her husband and children with complete and total dedication. Over the years, she took care of many others as well. She babysat children in the neighborhood like Denise Lidel and others who she became close to.

Elva had a gift for running a household. Some might even say she was a financial genius. The stories about her saving money are legendary. It has been said that Elva could do more with one dollar and a few coupons than most could do with a hundred dollars.

Elva was so giving and selfless. She loved not only her immediate family but her extended family as well and everybody loved Aunt Elva. If you needed to know who was getting married, who was having a baby, who's birthday it was or anything, all you had to do was call Aunt Elva.

Not only was Elva known for having the latest information and being kind and generous, she was known for her cooking and her quick wit. Everything she cooked and baked was delicious. Red beans and rice, potato salad and gumbo were just three of the dishes that she mastered. Elva didn't' have time for lies and foolishness. She told it like it was with a pinch of sugar.

What Elva loved to do most was visit with her family and friends. She especially loved the camping trips they took. Often, friends and family would meet up and then caravan to a lake where they would spend days fishing, talking around the camp fire and just enjoying one another's company. While camping, Elva even rode a motor cycle. One time, she challenged the youngsters to a race. She would have won had she not crashed.

Elva had a great sense of humor and she often cut up. She could say the funniest things. Not only would she have those around her laughing but she would laugh just as hard. Elva was also brave and adventurous. After growing tired of waiting on her loving husband to teach her to drive, she decided that she would teach herself. Imagine Peter. Sr.'s shock when he arrived home from a long day of work to discover that both Elva and the Chrysler were gone. Upon her return, she explained that she had been out, “makin' groceries.”

If we are blessed, we are sometimes allowed to have a visit from an angel. Elva was an angel among us. She was sincere, generous, loyal, and oh, so loving. She didn't believe in holding anything back. She often said that she lived her dash. Meaning that she was the best wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend that she could be. Elva made certain that the ninety two years she spent on this earth meant something. Though she is no longer able to make footprints in the sand, the impact that she made will live on in our hearts forever. On Friday, October 21st, Elva joined her devoted husband, her daughter and other family and friends in heaven. She leaves to mourn, her sons, Peter Jr. and Lance (Sheri), most devoted son- in- law, Ron Brembry, granddaughters, Shakara (Michael) Albright, Jennifer Davis, grandson Lance Jr., great grand children Imani, Caleb and Leighla, two brothers, Merlin and Verdel (Anamae), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Peter, her daughter Nathalie, her sisters, Velma and Leatrice and her brother Nathan.

Arrangements under the direction of Holy Cross Mortuary, Culver City, CA.