She was born on October 8, 1924 in Devonshire, Bermuda to Marguerite Usher. Elsie lived a remarkable life, reaching the extraordinary age of 100. Throughout her journey, she embraced challenges and welcomed change with an open heart.
Elsie was raised by her grandparents, George and Thirza Jennings. Growing up Elsie loved to play with her dolls and had fun dressing them. When her collection had grown to 18 dolls, her grandmother told her she had to give one of them to a needy child. Parting with even one, as suggested by her grandmother, wasn’t easy, but it sparked her kindness and generosity at a young age. Elsie attended Elliot School in Devonshire and continued her education at The Berkeley Institute.
In her teen years Elsie played basketball, hopscotch, jump rope and jacks after school with the neighborhood children. She did not get to grow up with her younger siblings but developed relationships with them later in life and created cherished memories.
Elsie met William Gladstone Darrell in 1939 and said it was love at first sight. They married in 1941, a marriage that spanned 58 years. In 1942 they started their family of what would be three boys and three girls. In 1958 the family moved to the United States and lived in Bronx, New York. A year later they settled in Queens, New York where Elsie and her husband Gladstone made a warm, secure home to raise their family. As the years passed she realized that she could create even more opportunities for her family if she was a citizen of the United States. On March 25, 1969 Elsie took the oath to become an American citizen.
Elsie took great pride in nurturing her loved ones, celebrating milestones, being there to support and encourage her children, then her grandchildren and great grandchildren to do better. When her youngest daughter was in 3rd grade Elsie began a part time job at F. W. Woolworth retail store in Manhattan. She left there to take a full-time position as a telephone operator at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan then retired from the same company as an administrative secretary for a doctor’s office.
A firm believer in the golden rule, she hoped others would treat people with the same kindness they wanted to receive. Elsie was a great leader for her Brownie troop in Queens, New York. She was president of both the North Brunswick Senior Center in New Jersey and the Knapp Senior Center in Pearland, Texas. At the Knapp Center they had a Royal court and Elsie was elected as queen for the year. Music filled her life with joy, particularly the soulful sounds of Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong. She had a soft spot for the color blue and found comfort in crocheting, knitting and sewing. She enjoyed playing games like Spider Solitaire, Scrabble, and Word Search. She would sometimes watch her favorite television shows like Keeping Up Appearances, Golden Girls, Shark Tank, Family Feud, Judge Judy, and sermons by Joel Osteen.
She treasured her family and always put everyone before herself. Her love for family shone brightly. She loved taking cruises and traveling with her husband Gladstone. Elsie also loved a good tea party, whether out and about or in the comfort of her home.
Though she has passed on, she leaves behind a beautiful legacy that spans four generations, a profound impact that will continue to resonate in the hearts of those she touched.
"Elsie’s final wishes were to be cremated, and her ashes will be interred beside William at Rosedale and Rosehill Cemetery in Linden, New Jersey."
Elsie is survived by her daughters Ismay Darrell Ramus and Rose Marie Darrell Snorgrass; her sister Eva Edness; her grandchildren Desiree Darrell, Valana Darrell, Adam Ramus, Shauni Snorgrass, Jonathan Darrell, Christopher Ramus, Jamal Darrell: her great grandchildren Malikai Sibayan, Patience Sibayan, Anthony Darrell; her great great grandchild Zeke Sibayan; nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and many close relatives and friends.
Elsie was preceded in death by her spouse William Gladstone Darrell; her children Marvin Darrell, John David Darrell, Charles Darrell and Gwendolyn Darell North; her mother Marguerite Jennings Usher; her grandfather George Jennings, her grandmother Thirza Peniston Jennings, her siblings Jean Bell, Henry Edness, Wanita Ashley, George Edness, Lois Crockwell, and her grandson David Darrell.
