Elsie Nardi – Selfless naturalist

Elsie Nardi Passalacqua passed away peacefully in her home
shortly after her 94th birthday where she was surrounded by her
loving family and friends. Born to Italian immigrant parents, Elsie
was the youngest of seven children. She grew up in the Dry Creek
Valley and attended Manzanita School, a one-room schoolhouse just
up from Nardi’s Corner. At 19, Elsie was crowned Queen of the Prune
Belt at the historic Healdsburg Plaza. After attending Healdsburg
High School and Dominican College in San Rafael, she married her
high school sweetheart, local attorney Francis Passalacqua, in
1933. Together they had four children, Hon. Frank Passalacqua, Tom
Passalacqua and his wife Sandi, Diane Passalacqua and Michael
Passalacqua. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Karen and
David Passalacqua, Kristin Schinella, Suzanne and Jason
Passalacqua, their loving spouses, and seven great-grandchildren.
Always active in her community, Elsie volunteered in numerous local
organizations including the American Cancer Society, Lawyer’s Wives
of America, YLI, ICF and many parish activities. Elsie was also a
Grand Jury appointee and served on the Healdsburg School Board for
many years. She will best be remembered as a gourmet Italian cook,
a world traveler with a love of culture, a zealous Oakland A’s fan,
and an avid gardener and naturalist, with an affinity for wild
flowers. Her happiest moments were those spent gathering friends
and family together, often at her and Francis’s mountain ranch
retreat. Our family considers her life, which she dedicated to each
one of us, as one of the greatest gifts given. A private mass and
burial was Tuesday, March 13. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to
send gifts are requested to direct them to Sutter VNA and Hospice,
1110 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, Cal. 95401 and to Healthcare
Foundation, Healdsburg District Hospital Building Fund, P.O. Box
1025, Healdsburg, CA, 95448.