Elsa Autino, the daughter of Ernesto Autino and Nadine Niding, was born April 4, 1931 in San Miguel de Tucuman, in Argentina. On January 1, 1955, while visiting some relatives in Rosario, she met Jorge Arman at a dance party in Rosario. Jorge was working in Buenos Aires and was in Rosario for the holidays. After five months of correspondence they were engaged. The two exchanged vows on January 16, 1956, the 30th wedding anniversary of Jorge’s parents, in Tafi Viejo, Tucuman.
Six months later, Elsa and Jorge moved to El Aguilar, Argentina, at 15,000 ft. above sea level. They lived there for seven years. Elsa was a smart money manager, saving enough money to build their first home in 1961 in Salta, Argentina while also raising two daughters, Edith and Beatriz.
In 1963, the family relocated to Ventura, California to start a new life.
Elsa was an elegant, determined and talented woman. She had extraordinary ability with her hands for all her passions; a skilled seamstress and creative ceramist who worked primarily with porcelain, a much more difficult medium than clay. Additionally, she was perceptive and had perseverance when it came to real estate and renovating homes. Throughout their life together, Elsa and Jorge, renovated four homes and built three custom homes.
Elsa was also incredibly social and was an active member of the Rotary Anns in Ventura, the perennial Hospitality Committee Chairwoman.
In 1990, Elsa and Jorge decided to retire in Escazu, Costa Rica. From 1993 to 2001, Elsa and Jorge lived in Costa Rica where Elsa undertook a new hobby: watercolor painting. She was inspired by her surroundings and loved to paint tropical plants and birds. They left Costa Rica at the end of 2001, leaving behind many friends, to move temporarily to Argentina.
A year after Elsa and Jorge had moved back to Ventura, in December 2004, Elsa was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Those who knew Elsa well, know that she loved animals, particularly toy poodles. She is remembered for being very creative, assertive, and had an extrovert personality. Elsa loved to host family and friends in her home: her special treat was empanadas. She was a loving wife, in the full sense of the word, and an excellent business partner. Elsa was a loving and caring mother who always looked out for her daughters, teaching them the important lessons of life. Her legacy will not be forgotten.
If you were to choose a song that best depicts her personality, sing along with Frank Sinatra “I did it my way . . . “
Elsa is survived by Jorge, her husband of nearly 63 years, daughters Edith (Fred Van Wingerden) from Santa Paula, and Beatriz (Diego Fiorito) from Houston; grandchildren Marcos Van Wingerden (Tiffany Nelson) from Ventura, Silvia Van Wingerden (Stuart Themudo) from Pasadena, Carla Fiorito (William Brademan) and Andre Fiorito from Houston; great-grandchildren Clara Themudo, Tomas Themudo and Wade Van Wingerden, brother in law Ricardo Arman (Rosa Cantarutti) and nephew Marcelo Arman, from San Diego; niece Monica Arman from San Mateo.
Those who wish to honor her name are invited to make a donation to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura, the Julius Gius Foundation of the Rotary Club of Ventura or the Alzheimer’s Association.
There will be no funeral services. A celebration of life for family and friends will be held January 19, 2019, starting at 1:00 PM at Elsa’s home.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.
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