Elsie Pauline Hafslund

Elsie Pauline Hafslund (Pullin) 1920-2009 Elsie Pauline Hafslund (Pullin), 89, of Willow Street, Pa., wife of the late Earl R. Hafslund, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, July 30, 2009, at Lakeside at Willow Valley, Willow Street, Pa. Elsie was born on February 12, 1920 at home in Boise, Idaho to Flossie (Willis) Pullin and Theodore J. Pullin. She spent her early years on the family homestead north of Loman, Idaho. Elsie was a graduate of Boise High School and Links Business School in Boise. After taking the Civil Service Exam, Elsie was offered and accepted a position with the Veteran's Administration in Washington, D.C. In 1941 she married Earl (Gronberg) Hafslund. Following Earl's working career, they lived in many locations including Lafayette, Ind., Relay, Md., Waynesboro, Va., Staunton, Va., Niagara Falls, N.Y., Wilmington, Del., and Willow Street, Pa. Elsie is survived by her sister, Ola May Pullin Post of Garden Grove, Calif.; her three daughters and sons-in-law; Ann and Sterling Andrews of Newington, Conn., Lynn and Norman Mead of Galena, Md., Karen and Chuck Kovacs of Towanda, Pa.; six grandchildren, Michael Kelley, Mark Kelley, Paul Kelley, Elrond Soukup, Charles Kovacs and Mark Kovacs; five great-grandchildren, Alexandra Kelley, Christopher Kelley, Kyle Kelley Nicholas Kelley and Megan Kovacs; her half sister Evarita Spencer of Collinsville, Va.. her half brothers, Wallace Pullin of Fruitland, Idaho, Warren Pullin of Middleton, Idaho, her cousin Marion B. Steppe, Boise Idaho, and many nieces and nephews. Elsie volunteered with the Girl Scout troops in which Ann and the twins, Lynn and Karen were active. She enjoyed making clothing for herself and her daughters and knitted and crotched many afghans. Her shorthand skills were beneficial for many church boards at Second Baptist Church in Wilmington, Del. Elsie was very active in the Ann Judson Society and typed the Second Baptist cookbook "Seconds Anyone."Elsie volunteered at Christiana Hospital where she conducted patient interviews. When Elsie's children were grown, she and Earl learned to sail and really enjoyed sailing on the Chesapeake River, traveling to visit family and taking trips to Norway, Germany, Alaska, Yugoslavia, New Zealand and Australia. When she and Earl moved to Willow Valley in 1994, they joined many friends from their DuPont community. Together they enjoyed delivering mail and passing water pitchers to the residents of "Skilled Care." Earl was the love of Elsie's life. She cared for him with tireless, loving devotion. The family would like to thank the staff of Special Care for the kind and caring companions who helped Elsie for several years and the staff of Willow Valley at the Lakes Manor, Meadow Ridge, Cedar Brook at the Glen and Lakeside. Her life will be celebrated with a memorial service on Aug. 2, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Willow Street Mennonite Church, corner of Penn Grant Road and Hans Herr Drive, Willow Street, Pa. with Pastor Robert Breneman and Pastor Mark Mentzer officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 6 p.m. until time of service. A service for the internment of ashes will be held at the Church of Christ, Congregational in Newington, Conn. at the family's convenience. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Elsie's memory may be made to Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, One Intrepid Square, West 46th & 12th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10036-1012 or Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, Pa. 17604-4125 or to a charity of donor's choice. Fred F. Groff, Inc. www.lifecelebration.com.