Anna Maria McElroy

Anna Maria McElroy passed away October 23, 2013. She left this earth to be with her Lord Jesus Christ and Savior at 6:48 pm, at St. Paul University Hospital UTSW, Dallas, Texas. Anna was born in Florence, Italy on July 4, 1928 to Ersilia and Gabriele Gabrielian. She is 3rd generation of July 4th birthdays. Anna, her mother and grandmother were born on July 4th. She grew up in Rome until she moved to Venice during WW2. While living there in Venice, she worked on the military base and it was there that she met her husband and soul mate, John Weldon McElroy. Anna and John did not speak the language of one another, but somehow communicated, fell in love and married in Venice on November 17, 1946. Anna would affectionately call him "Gianni" (Johnny in Italian) and that is what she called him for the next 67 years they were married. Shortly after the war ended, in 1948, John brought his Italian bride to his home in America and they settled in Grand Prairie, TX where they started their new family and began raising four daughters. Anna still did not speak English when she came to America, but through crossword puzzles, magazines, TV, radio and her persistence and tenacity to learn the language, she taught herself to read, write and speak English. She was highly intelligent and even in her later years, her memory remained sharp, remembering exact dates and names of events that happened so very long ago, things she experienced in her life both here and in Italy. She was an amazing storyteller and could entertain anyone with her stories for hours upon end. Anna was also a naturally gifted artist and writer. She would help with many of her children's art projects for school over the years. She loved the cinema, and was drawn to film at a very early age because of her father's profession as a cinematographer in the Italian Film industry, which caused him at times to travel all over the world, sometimes working with such greats as Rudolf Valentino. She had a strong appreciation for all the arts, great films, actors and actresses. And music...she loved music and would sing her favorite Italian songs to her children around the house as they grew up. She would also entertain her children's friends with certain words and phrases she used that were a mixture of Italian and English words and phrases. People young and old were enamored and drawn to her kind, giving and unique specialness.

True to her Italian heritage, she was a very loving, giving, selfless and nurturing mother and friend. Anna was a hard working wife and homemaker, who loved to cook and sew. She taught herself to sew, sewing many of her 4 daughters clothing, at times dressing them in matching dresses. She would spend hours crocheting and knitting all sorts of things, mostly gifts for loved ones. She also expressed her creativity through cooking and baking for her family and others she graciously invited into her home. She came to be known for her exquisite Italian dishes she would make from scratch and from Italian recipes she would bring home from visits to Italy and her Italian family. She loved all children and for a time, enjoyed caring for other people's children whose parents worked outside of the home. Anna was also just as loving and nurturing toward animals, doting on her pets as if they were human. She leaves behind one such beloved pet, Nina, their little dog, who is no doubt missing her so very much. Thank God for Nina, who Anna leaves behind for her Johnny as a companion to love and care for until they see her again...

Anna was a very spiritual person who loved to pray. The last hours of her evenings were spent at bedtime praying for many loved ones. She would spend hours naming each person and family. The list of people she cared deeply for grew so long, we suggested she write her long list on paper and tuck it into her leather bound journal that zipped and she could then hold it each night as she prayed. She believed deeply in her God and creator as well as holding dear her Roman Catholic faith she was raised in. And so strong was her faith in God and love for Him that the last words she spoke in her life were the words "O Dio" several times in succession, which in Italian means, "Oh God"...

Anna is preceded in death by her beloved parents Ersilia and Gabriele; brothers Mario and Luigi.

She is survived by her husband John Weldon McElroy; daughters Linda Rusche and husband Patrick, Marielle Potter, Silvia Wallace and husband Rodney, Norma Frisina and husband Patrick; son-in-love Michael Potter; grandchildren Alana, Rheagan, Jason, Todd, Jeremy, 6 great-grandchildren and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins here and in Italy.

Our Mamma...Anna Maria will forever live on in our hearts and memories, but for now we know she is resting in peace in the arms of her loving creator, God her father, where there is no more tears, pain, suffering or sorrow. She is home at last, in heaven, where we too will join her someday...

"We love you Mamma, we will look for you in our dreams...." ~Your beloved family

"...And Mizpah; for He said, may the Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another...." ~Genesis 31:49

"...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ~Revelation 21:4

"...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord...Amen! ~Romans 8:38-39

Visitation will be Tuesday, October 29th, from 4-8pm at Bean Massey Burge.

Services will be held Wednesday. October 30, 2013 at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her name to either; disabled veterans, paralyzed veterans, American Cancer Society , SPCA or the humane society.