Elsa Alcantara

ELSA AVANCEÑA ALCANTARA, MD was born August 9, 1933 in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, Philippines, the third of five children of Mayor Sofronio Avanceña and Roberta Dominguez Avanceña, and passed peacefully in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where she had made her home since 1968.

Elsa is preceded in death by her beloved husband of sixty-one years, Dr. Lucilo Alcantara (“Lu”). Elsa is survived by her beloved children Dr. Anthony Alcantara and his wife, Christine, Dianne Romanelli and her husband, Dr. Michael Romanelli, and Oscar Alcantara and his wife, Kimberly; and grandchildren Adam Alcantara, Robert Alcantara, Nathan Alcantara, Annabel Romanelli, Joseph Romanelli, Lynne Romanelli, Teresa Romanelli, Jonathon Alcantara, Lu Alcantara, and Asher Alcantara.

Elsa graduated from the University of Santo Tomas Medical School in Manila, Philippines in 1957. She came to the United States that year to begin her training in internal medicine at Deaconess Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she met her future husband, Lu, who was also a graduate of UST and resident in surgery.

Elsa served as the Chief of Medicine and Chief of Staff at North Detroit General Hospital, and served on the Internal Medicine staff of Alexander Blain Memorial Hospital. Elsa was also a Clinical Instructor in the Wayne State University Department of Medicine. Along with the love of her life and practice partner, Elsa and Lu maintained their medical practice at Conant Clinic P.C., where they cared for the health of the many families of Hamtramck for three decades. Elsa learned to speak Polish to minister to the health of her Poletown-resident patients. Elsa was also a frequent volunteer for medical missions to the Philippines.

Mimi, her nickname in later life, loved music, chocolate, playing late-night mahjong with friends, placing and pressing on six and eight, and helping to care for her grandchildren. She was known to have succumbed to bouts of uncontrollable giggling, and was the longtime leader on the family’s Tetris leaderboard. She will be missed by family, friends and colleagues around the world.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made, in honor of the deceased, to the University of Santo Tomas Medical School Alumni Organization — Anargyroi: FMS Foundation, Inc. (https://anargyroiustfmsfoundation.org/ways-to-give/) (Reference “In Honor of Elsa Avanceña Alcantara” in the “Organization” prompt).

A visitation for Elsa will be held Wednesday May 6, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 8: 00 PM at A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236. A rosary will be prayed Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM, 20705 Mack Ave. An instate will take place Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM at St. Paul on the Lake, 157 Lake Shore, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236. A funeral mass will be held Thursday May 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul on the Lake, 157 Lake Shore, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236.