Elvira Fazzi

Elvira was born in the small town of Nusco, in the Avellino province of Italy, near Naples, the third child of Michele and Vincenza Delli Gatti. She was incredibly wise although she had only a fifth-grade education. When she was a young girl, the family moved to France for six years. Eventually she boarded a ship to America. An “off the boat” Italian, she became acclimated to life in the United States.

Her family lived in Astoria, New York, where many Italians ended up during the 50s and 60s. School wasn’t an option; they hardly knew the language and money had to be made. So, Elvira worked as a salesperson at a clothing store on Steinway Street. A chance encounter with two Italian immigrants from the Abruzzi region, Alvaro Verdecchia and Renato Fazzi, would change her life. Alvaro was chatting with her, and Renato was quiet. “What’s the matter with him, he doesn’t talk?” she asked about the man who she would eventually spend her life with. They married on June 10, 1967 and lived in Astoria. A son, Alex, was born in 1969, and a daughter, Joann, in 1972. They bought a house in Flushing in 1974 and settled there, in the parish of St. Mel. She was a homemaker and seamstress, sent her children to St. Mel’s School and volunteered at the church, first as a school mom and eventually using her skills to create baptismal bibs for the babies in the parish.

Her faith defined her life. She attended daily mass, even after Alex was diagnosed with stage four cancer at just 21 years old. He urged her not to blame God and she didn’t, although she often wondered why. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for Alex, including a late-night emergency helicopter ride to Buffalo, New York, where a surgeon would prolong his life. Sadly, Alex lost his battle with cancer at 23. Of course this was a loss she never recovered from, wearing black for the three plus decades after his passing, but the births of her grandchildren Carmelo and Alex gave her life purpose as Nonna. She loved cooking for and caring for them, and continued to perform miracles with a needle and thread. In 2016, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. This disease broke down her body and eventually affected her mind, and yet she remained steadfast in her faith and love for her family. She leaves behind her beloved husband Renato, daughter Joann and son-in-law Vinny, grandchildren Carmelo and Alex, siblings Josephine (the late John), Anne Marie (Rocco), Joseph (Rita), Antonella (Joseph) and Johnny, her sister-in-laws Eva (the late John), Mima (Joseph) and Katina, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her son Alex, who she joins at last in Heaven.

Visitation will be held at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358, US, on August 30, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mel's RC Church, 26-15 154th St, Flushing, NY 11354, US, on August 31, 2026, at 9:45 am.

Interment will follow at St. John Cemetery, 80-01 Metropolitan Ave, New York, NY 11379, US, on August 31, 2026.

Gifts can be made in memory of Elvira Fazzi to the RWJ University University Hospital Foundation with a designation to the Alex R. Fazzi Fund.

www.rwjbh.org/rwjuhgivenow