Elsie Reale Dinova

Elsie Reale Dinova, 88, returned to the Lord on 12/23/2025. She was the loving wife of August Edward (Ed) Dinova (deceased) with whom she shared 66 years of marriage and three children. Elsie was born in Middlebury, CT on 6/20/1937 and was the daughter of Dominic and Olga Carlet Reale (both deceased).

Surviving Elsie to cherish her memory are her children: Lori Dinova Partridge (James deceased) of Naples, FL, Judy Dinova Payne (Steve) of Englewood, FL, Edward (Ed) Dinova (Agnes) of Naples, FL. Grandchildren: Jane E Dinova of Naples, FL, Steven Christopher Payne of Port Charlotte, FL, and Sarah Nicole Payne of Houston, TX. Sister: Kathryn (Kathy) Reale Veneziano of Clinton, CT. She is also survived by loved ones, nieces, nephews and many from Lori's extended family who called her Gramma Elsie.

Elsie met her future husband, Ed Dinova, when she was 10 yrs old, he was 16 and worked at his uncle's store delivering groceries. She was playing dolls on her front steps and had to move so he could carry the groceries into the house. After Ed returned from his tour in the US Navy and Elsie was a senior in high school, she met him again at the store when she went in to pick up Bing cherries for her mom. He followed her out of the store and asked her to go to a movie after work. They were later married on 5/30/1957.

Together they raised 3 kids all born within 3 years of each other back in the day when they still wore cloth diapers. Their first home was in Waterbury, CT in a cute little red house that Elsie's father built. Later they moved to Oakville, CT. After enjoying Christmas at Disney World Orlando the first year it opened in 1971, Elsie's family toured south FL and fell in love with Naples. In 1973 they moved into their home in Naples, FL to avoid the CT snow where Elsie lived for 52 years.
Elsie went to Crosby High School in Waterbury, CT. She worked at the Waterbury Hospital in the admitting office transporting patients as well as at the lobby visitation desk and also worked at a local bank in CT. In the late 1960's, Elsie opened the Mother Goose Nursery school in the United Methodist Church in Watertown, CT. Elsie later worked in Naples at East Naples Elementary school in the mornings and Poinciana Kindergarten in the afternoons. When Pine Ridge Middle school opened, she worked in their reading lab. Prior to her retirement she worked at the First National Bank on 5th Ave S in Naples for 15 years as a bank officer.

The pride of Elsie's life were her grandchildren. Jane lived in Naples and spent quality time with her grandparents and shared many great adventures. Steven lived in NC but spent every summer in Naples and their favorite times were spent at the beach as well as Cambier and Fleishman Park. When Sarah came along, she also spent her summers in Naples and cherishes many great memories.

In 2016 Elsie was a founding member along with Lori of Operation Christmas Blessing Lee County, FL. This group helped to match up needy families with "Angels" for Christmas gifts. It grew from matching 200 to over 900 children in 2025. She loved volunteering with other outreach programs in both Collier and Lee County including sorting and handing out school supplies, Christmas gifts and serving food. In addition, Elsie was involved in documenting her family genealogy with Judy and they have over 450 people listed in her family tree. Elsie was also the last survivor of a group of friends and neighbors that frequently got together to play cards, dominos and have potlucks dinners.

Elsie & Ed's children were blessed to have two of the most loving, dependable and knowledgeable people in their lives and will miss them dearly. Elsie's memory will be cherished and her legacy will last for generations to come.

Monday, January 5, 2026
Services: Fuller Funeral Home
Interment: Naples Memorial Gardens
Hodges Cemetery