Elsa Pulvirenti, beloved Mother, wife, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away on May 21st after celebrating her 98th birthday in April. She was born in Springfield, MA, the only child of Joseph and Adalgisa. Her father remarried after his first wife died. Elsa was then raised by her stepmother, Egidia. Through that marriage, Elsa also gained a step sister, Laura, who predeceased her.
After marriage to Vincent, Elsa lived in Longmeadow, MA and later moved to West Palm Beach in the 1980s.
Elsa was a voracious reader, enjoyed writing in her spare time, and created an extensive vegetable and flower garden. She was known to send out beautiful bouquets to the neighbors. With her vegetables, she made delicious homemade meals. She delighted in baking breads and making pasta. She enjoyed creating beautiful crewel work and was patient to deliver a design that was very delicate and pleasing.
Elsa was a diligent student. She graduated first in her class from Commerce High School in Springfield, MA. When she was in her early 40’s and before women’s liberation, Elsa decided to attend Westfield State College in Westfield, MA as a full time student. She drove round trip (90 minutes) from her home in Longmeadow, MA to Westfield, every day for four years. Her husband supported her fully so that she could achieve her lifelong dream to earn a college degree. Through her hard work, sheer determination and sharp intellect, she graduated second in her class and received her B.S.Ed. in Education. Elsa taught elementary education in grade 4 in Longmeadow, MA for 7 years.
Elsa was a gracious, gentle, charming and emotionally generous person who was kind and helpful to everyone. Her keen intellect enhanced all that she endeavored. Her greatest love was of family. The family that she created and nurtured was her pride and joy. She enjoyed immensely becoming a great grandmother in November 2017 to Sophia.
In addition, she had enormous respect for her Italian heritage and maintained correspondence with her parents’ families. Through her endeavors, she compiled a comprehensive family history. A huge highlight for her was when she and her husband visited their respective families in Italy.
Elsa was passionate about her heritage and became involved in the Italian Cultural Society of Palm Beaches by joining Il Circolo. She served as Membership Chairperson for many years and at her retirement from that position was honored as a Membership Chairperson Emeritus. Through her involvement at Il Circolo, she resumed becoming proficient at speaking, reading, and writing Italian.
After World War II, Elsa married Vincent Pulvirenti. They were married 65 years before the love of her life passed on.
Elsa is survived by her two daughters, Carolyn Baron of McLean, Virginia and Janice Pulve of West Palm Beach, her grandson David Baron of California and great granddaughter Sophia Baron also of California. She also leaves her son-in-law Robert Baron and granddaughter-in-law Rongrong Huang Baron.
Her family will receive friends between the hours of 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL, CREMATION & EVENT CENTER, 5411 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33417, with a Prayer Service to be held at 1:00 PM. Internment will occur at the South Florida National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations in her honor be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Southeast Florida Chapter, 3323 West Commercial Boulevard, Suite 260, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 (https://act.alz.org/site/Donation)
