Obituary of Elisa Orsola Parrella

Elisa O. Parrella, a resident of Poughkeepsie since arriving from Italy in 1949, passed away peacefully on Wednesday February 25, 2009 at Vassar Brothers Hospital. She was born Elisa Orsula Tirelli in Calvi, Benevento, Italy to the late Luigi Tirelli and Margherita Mirra. She attended private schools in Benevento and after graduation, began a career with the postal service in Italy. After ten years in the postal service, she gave up her career as a supervisor to marry the love of her life, William Joseph Parrella. They exchanged vows on February 6, 1950 at Mt. Carmel Church in Poughkeepsie. Elisa loved life, had a great sense of humor and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She particularly enjoyed knitting, sewing, crocheting, and crafted many beautiful and delicate articles that earned her the reputation of having "mani d'oro." An avid reader and music lover, she especially enjoyed trips to New York City to see broadway plays and shows. She traveled extensively and enjoyed spending her summers in Sorrento, Italy. Elisa was a devout Catholic and supporter of many charities. She was proud of her Italian heritage and culture and instilled that pride in her family. Elisa is survived by her children Carla Parrella-O'Donnell, Margherita Parrella-Ferrentino, and Nicholas Parrella; her grandchildren Mia Nicole and William Ferrentino, Nicholas William Parrella, and William Parrella-O'Donnell; her sons-in-law Thomas O'Donnell and Matthew R. Ferrentino; by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and extended family; her pet dogs Maggie and Roma. She is predeceased by her husband William Parrella of Poughkeepsie and her brothers Augusto, Quirino, Vincenzo and Pasquale Tirelli, of Italy. Calling hours will be Tuesday, March 3, 2009 from 4 to 8pm at Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc. 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at 9:30am at Mt. Carmel Church in Poughkeepsie, NY. Burial will immediately follow at St. Peter's Cemetery, Poughkeepsie, NY. Our family would like to thank the Arlington EMS team, as well as the doctors and ICU staff at Vassar Brothers Hospital. Their kindness, care and dedication is deeply appreciated. Words cannot express our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Davide DeBellis and his wife, Lynette, for the loving care and concern they gave her through the years.