Elsie DRESCH

DRESCH (DiNardo), Elsie Elsie DiNardo Dresch, age 92, passed peacefully at her home, with her daughter by her side, on October 6, 2017. She is the beloved mother of Janet Dresch Mozley, proud grandmother of grandson James and granddaughter Marion and her husband Brandon Blount, and Elsie would have been thrilled to welcome into the world and into her arms her first great grandchild, Harry, born on October 7, 2017. Elsie was preceded in death by her husband of almost 50 years, Fred Dresch and by their son, Fred Dresch Jr., who passed away in 2003 at age 53. Born of immigrant Italian parents in South Philadelphia, Elsie is a nationally known artist, who is celebrated by all who have known her as a woman who enjoyed life to its fullest, with a vibrant spirit, innate optimism, quick wit and a great capacity for love of family and friends and for her artist and church communities. She was an inspiration, mentor, instructor and role model for hundreds of artists, and her influence helped set many artists on their path to success. She was a proud member of her church for over 50 years and her love of God was evident in her compassion for all. She traveled extensively to paint, teach and to enjoy new adventures. She was prolific and skilled in painting in oil and pastels of subjects ranging from landscape, figures and abstracts. She has won numerous regional and national awards for her work, and her paintings hang in private and corporate collections in the United States, Canada and Italy. In 1966, Elsie with her husband Fred and children moved to Atlanta. She attended the Atlanta College of Art and began teaching art a lifelong love. She joined the Atlanta Artists Club (now, Atlanta Artists Center), and remained actively and influentially involved for more than 55 years. Dedicated to AAC's mission to advance art throughout metro Atlanta, Georgia and the Southeast, Elsie served in many leadership roles on the board and was a generous supporter of the organization. An AAC gallery is dedicated to and named for her. She achieved the status of a Member of Excellence at Atlanta Artists Center. She was also a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and a Member of Excellence in the Southeastern Pastel Society. At age 81, Elsie published her instructional painting book after years of urging by her students and fellow artists: Create Better Paintings: Working with Pastels. To mark her 85th birthday, Elsie mounted a show of 85 pieces, painted within the course of a year. Highlighting her indomitable spirit: when she broke her wrist just before the show was to be hung, she painted the last two pieces with her left hand. Elsie's vision was to celebrate her ninth decade with a special show. That vision came to fruition with a show in the main lobby of her church, now on view and open to the public. The service to honor and celebrate the long and well-lived life of Elsie DiNardo Dresch will be held Monday, October 23 at 11:00 am at the Central Congregational United Church of Christ, 2676 Clairmont Road NE, Atlanta GA 30329. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Atlanta Artists Center, 2979 Grandview Avenue, Atlanta GA 30305.