Eloise A. Festa

Eloise Adele (Milton) Festa, 94 was welcomed into the arms of the Lord on Sunday, May 11, 2025. Born and raised in Minneapolis, MN to C. Ward and Gladys Eloise Morrison Milton on January 15, 1931. Her parents and her siblings, Dorothy Brown, Barbara Risdall, Margaret Fearing, and Earl Milton are long deceased. At least eight known nieces and nephews on Eloise’ side of the family, especially Sally, are saddened by her passing.

Eloise has always been able to reminisce with family members about her youth, especially going with family and friends each year to their summer home by the lake. Her lifelong friend, Evie Johnston (E.J.) was like a member of her family. Shortly after high school, Eloise moved to Denver, CO to live with her sister and helped her to take care of her children. It was there that she began her first career working for Bell Telephone.

After several years, she and her friend E.J. hatched the bold idea of moving to New York City together. Eloise got a transfer from Bell Telephone to work in New York and E.J. joined her. They enjoyed their new city life, going to Broadway shows, eating at nice restaurants, and going to dance clubs, where Eloise has always admitted to drinking a bit too much Pinot Grigio! Then, one day, she decided to place an ad in the personal section of the NY Times (the old fashioned Match.com!) seeking an interesting male companion. After several communications, she agreed to meet the man that would become her husband and the love of her life, Roger Festa. She always mused that the first time she met him, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen! Eloise was married to Roger for 39 years. She leaves behind three generations of grieving Festa family members, ranging from several months old to 87 years young, all of whom always will miss her greatly.

Shortly into their marriage, Roger and Eloise moved from NYC to the country cottage home of their dreams in Canaan, CT where they raised their son, David. Eloise retired from Bell telephone, later becoming a manager of a small apartment complex and then worked for many years as an administrative assistant at a private school for boys, Salisbury School, in Salisbury, CT.

Eloise’s adoring son, David, caring daughter-in-law, Liliana, and beloved grandsons, Marco 13, Luciano 11, and Maximiliano 8 are forever going to miss her love, grace, charm, family stories cooking, and especially baking, which she loved to do during the holidays. She always baked their favorite angel food cake with strawberries for all their birthdays every year! Special thanks to Gus, the head nurse at VITAS Hospice, who took such wonderful care of Eloise the last couple of months.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, May 20 from 9:30-10:45 a.m. concluding with a Prayer Service at 10:45 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. Following the service, Eloise will be inurned with her beloved Roger at the State Veterans’ Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown.

Flowers or a memorial donation in memory of Eloise to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) would be something she really would have appreciated. To share a memory of Eloise, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com