Elisa Rains

Elisa Maria Faccio Rains, known throughout her life as Marisa, died Monday, July sixteenth at the age of eighty. Death took her only after prolonged resistance. She died, as she lived, with grace and courage, leaving a grieving husband Cal, son Keith, daughters Lisa and Robin, Grandchildren Lee, Zachary, Spencer, Danielle Britttany, Cameron, Alexander and one Great Grandchild, Ethan.

Italian and born in Padova, educated and married in Trieste, Marisa came to Denver in 1952. Her husband attended and graduated from the University of Denver with the working help of Marisa.

A mother and housewife, she excelled in the kitchen and became famous for her artichoke recipe. Her Italian education made her expert at all word games and a 'go to' person by family and friends alike. She played the game of life with zest and integrity, a voice respected for intelligence, wit and compassion.

Camping for her, whether at beach, mountain or desert, was simply a comfortable extension of her world, one occasionally calling for humor. Example: While camping in the desert with the family a wind storm blew through the campground, driving us, with our salad clutched in-hand, into our tent. The air was gritty and the mood was grim until Marisa suddenly became the ever-so-solicitous waiter and made the sand just another condiment by asking about the salads, 'Is there enough sand?'

All children touched her heart and, for a time, Marisa volunteered at Denver's Children's Hospital and with the arrival of her first grandchild her care and devotion turned to family. She leaves many, many friends with intimate memories of shared trips camping and wandering through the West. Tennis was her game and was a choice partner in fierce doubles competition.

She leaves the world she touched in better condition than when she entered it and we are grateful for the privilege of knowing her.

Service, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 10:30AM, Staging Area "B", Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 West Kenyon Ave., Denver, Colorado, 80236

The Denver Rescue Mission and the Collier Hospice Center at the Lutheran Hospital campus are the charities she hoped would be given consideration.