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BORN
1965
DIED
2011
Elsa Dias Obituary
She was the beloved wife of Jose Estrela for over 18 years. Born February 2, 1965 in Cape Verde, she was a daughter of Francisco and Marlene (Martins) Dias of Macau.
Elsa lived most of her life in Macau and the USA. She also lived three years in Bahrain before moving to North Attleboro in 2004.
She received a BS in Communications and later a Masters in History from Rhode Island College. She worked as a television journalist in Macau for several years before becoming ill. She blogged extensively about her illness and had thousands of readers around the world for her blog, "Living With A Sarcoma". Elsa also enjoyed gardening, making family videos and photography.
In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by two daughters, Filipa Dias Estrela and Maya Dias Estrela both at home; two brothers, Domingos Dias of North Kingstown, RI and Tony Dias of Coventry, RI; a sister, Carla Calvert ofSyracuse, NY and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated in All Saints Parish, 323 Rathbun Street, Woonsocket RI on Wednesday, March 23 at 10:30 a.m. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted.
Arrangements provided by Sperry & McHoul Funeral Home, 15 Grove Street, North Attleboro.
To sign an online guestbook for Elsa, please visit www.sperry-mchoul.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Edna Carvalhal
March 17, 2020
So many years have passed and I still think about you often dear old friend. I Hope you look down on us with a smile
Sandro MASUCCI
April 2, 2011
You touched our lives dearest Elsa. RIP
Jan Childs
March 30, 2011
Joe and family, Please accept my sincere condolences in the loss of your beloved Elsa. My thoughts and prayers go out to you during this difficult time.
Jan Childs
Esmeralda Catalim
March 26, 2011
Thank you Elsa for your friendship, for your courage, for your determination and for your example of hope and life. You will always shine in my heart and in every flower, every sunrise and every re-birth. My thoughts and prayers goes to the family. Rest in peace Elsa.
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Kiki Estrela
March 24, 2011
Elsa,
Your smile, your optimism and your strength were definitely an inspiration for many of us.
Your gentle voice and way of being planted your seeds in our hearts these seeds remain very much alive in each one of your friends and your family and the innumerous people who found hope and strength in your blog.
You're in many places, in many hearts and memories and hopes... we just can't touch you.
Miss ya,
Kiki
March 24, 2011
To Elsa's Friends and Loving Family-
Let the spirit and memories of this wonderful woman live within you forever.
Bill Hannigan and Paula Shannon
John Lawrence
March 24, 2011
Filipa:
My condolences to you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
M. Lawrence
Denise Jennifer Monteiro
March 23, 2011
May God take you to a better place! You will be missed! <3
Victor Monteiro
March 23, 2011
A great friend, a fighter and above it all a great mother. It was a pleasure to have you in our lives. Your stenght kept Ana and I going and beliving. You will be missed. May God bless your soul.
Rest in peace.
Ana and Victor S. Monteiro
March 23, 2011
i was inspired by your courage. Ginho
dulce leite-dealmeida
March 23, 2011
conhecer Elsa foi realmente uma honra.
expontanea,sorridente,corajosa,franca e muito mais era a minha amiga Elsa.Sentiremos saudades,mas nos resta a alegria de saber que ela fez parte da nossa vida.A familia desejamos forcas e bencaos de Deus.
Dulce leite-dealmeida
March 23, 2011
As minhas mais sentidas condolências a toda a família . Que Deus vos console e abençõe nesta hora . Um abraço da Conceição Brandão
Paulina Teixeira
March 23, 2011
My thoughts are with the family. Know that you/we were all so very fortunate to have had such a amazing and loving person in your lives. Treasure the memories of this great lady, Elsa Dias.
Forever in my heart.
Lina
Ambrizeth Lima
March 23, 2011
To Elsa's Family,
I never met Elsa, but I heard about her courage and her strength through mutual friends. You are in my prayers.
Fatima Magalhaes de Sousa
March 23, 2011
Os meus sentidos pesames a falilie enlutada, da ex-vizinha Maria de Fatima Magalhaes de Sousa e Familia.
Elsa, descanse em Paz, R.I.P
God Bless your dearest family....
Familia Magalhaes de Sousa (ex-vizinhos) (Macau).
lauren hewitt
March 23, 2011
I met Elsa years ago. She spoke of her illness with such hope. She was an inspiration. I will always remember her smile and positive energy. Her legacy will live on in her daughters.
Albertina Jorge
March 23, 2011
You will always live in our hearts and prayers.
Ondina Dash
March 23, 2011
?? I will always remember your smile, so sweet, so lovely and dear ??
Vicente Domingos Pereira Coutinho
March 23, 2011
My deepest simpathy and condolences to all family of Elsa and as her collegue of secondary school L.N.I.D.H. in Macau
Vicente D. P. Coutinho
She was she is a brave sound of silence a reason to believe...all of us learned from her.. Elsinha..
Margarida Fontes
March 22, 2011
Minha querida companheira, descanse em paz... a sensação daquele abraço que me prometeste estará guardada no meu coração, para sempre.
Francoise Santos
March 22, 2011
God looked around his garden And He found an empty place. And then He looked down upon the earth, And saw your tired face. He put His arms around you, And lifted you to rest. God's garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best.
~Rest in peace, Elsa. Your smile will continue to shine brightly in our hearts~
Joel Sanca
March 22, 2011
Elsa foi muito bom concheb, emocao kun senti primeiro dia kun oiob bo e bo amiga Zaza un ka ta squece ate dia kun tcha es mundo, descansa em Paz Amiga, e pa falimia bsot penssa tcheu na Deus el e que ta da nos consolo
Joel Sanca(JU)
Jill McCullough
March 22, 2011
We are saddened by the loss of Elsa. Please know we are thinking of you all and hope memories of Elsa comfort you at this time. Much love, Tim and Jill McCullough and family
Anne Sandland
March 22, 2011
Filipa.
I never met your Mother, but after reading her blogs I felt her wonderful, amazing spirit shining through. She was a beautiful woman and will always be a part of who you are. God bless you and your Family
Kristie McKinnon
March 22, 2011
You were a flower sprouting upwards from the earth.
God was the soil that helped you grow to all your worth.
Now we know you were an
angel sent to us from the Lord above.
Here to show us the meaning of laughter and love.
Rest in peace, Elsa.
Your spirit remains here
Jenn Pacheco
March 22, 2011
Elsa will always hold a special place in my heart. Her soul was as beautiful as her smile and I don't remember seeing her without joy in her eyes. May her legacy of love and life continue to live on in your family, in your hearts, and her smile on your faces. My deepest sympathies to you all. I send my love and prayers during this time. She was truly a gem among gems!
The Damato Family
March 22, 2011
Ms. Elsa...the ideal woman of beauty, patience, courage and strength. We are so grateful to have had you in our lives! We miss you! Keeping your family in our thoughts and prayers.
With love,
Keri, Mike Brodie and Bryson
Edna Carvalhal
March 22, 2011
Elsa my childhood friend. We played together years back in Sta Catarina, Cabo Verde. After loosing contact with her for a long time, i got the chance to see her again in the US many years later and it was as if time had never passed. She was indeed an outstanding personality. Warm, cheerful, positive and always smiling. She's been on my mind ever since I knew about her condition, and i'll never forget her. To her girls I want to say your mom was one of a kind. To her husband hold on to the wonderful memories so you'll find the strenght to go on and to her parents, brothers, sister and family be strong and find comfort in your love for Elsa and each other.
May you find the peace that you deserve dear Elsa.
Helena Azarpour
March 22, 2011
Querida Elsa com um sorriso permanente,sempre doce perante tanta adversidade.Um exemplo para todos...sentidos pêsamos a toda a familia
Helena Azarpour
Brousseau Family
March 22, 2011
Ze, Filipa & Maya -
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your whole family. May the happy memories of Elsa get you thru the sad times.
Ze Miranda
March 22, 2011
Ao Ze' e familia com os nossos sinceros pêsames.
Ze' Carlos, Lena & Tina
Elsa, family & friends. Macau 70's
Mario, Loli & Nuno Pinto de Oliveira
March 22, 2011
Adelino Fonseca
March 22, 2011
Dear Dias and Estrela family my deepest simpathy for your loss.
March 22, 2011
As minhas mais sentidas condolencias para toda a família Dias.A Elsa e o seu eterno sorriso será de certo a força reconfortante par todos nós.Um abraço muito especial para o marido e um grande beijo para a Filipa e a Maya.
São Pinto e família
Miguel Salgado
March 22, 2011
Inspiração, exemplo, coragem. Todos os dias e para sempre no meu coração. ?
Jim & Nancy Heagney
March 22, 2011
Dear Dias family, we are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you at this time.
Chris Greenhalge
March 22, 2011
You were a bright light, a flower on a rainy day. The world will miss you, Elsa.
My prayers for peace and acceptance are with you, Felipa, Maya, Ze.
Kim DeMarco
March 22, 2011
Flipa, Maya, and Zi, Elsa was an insperation to all that have known her. She was an AMAZING woman! Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We are here for you.
With love,
Kim, Kevin, Kevin, Brittani, and Kaleigh
Ana Isabel
March 22, 2011
Oh Elsa... sodade, beijoooooo
Zé, Pipas, Maya, Duduca, Tó, Carla
Abraço forte
Cecilia Jorge
March 22, 2011
A tua força e energia são contagiantes mesmo akms de distância, sinto-me honrada de te ter conhecido e de ainda ter tido a oportunidade de te rever recentemente. Um forte abraço para toda a família.
March 22, 2011
You were a true inspiration of HOPE! You will be missed! Rest in Peace!
São Jonet-Branco and family!
Ana Dias
March 22, 2011
Oh Elsa!
Beijooooooooo
Isabela & Paulo
March 22, 2011
Dear Family,
"Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear."
xx
Ana Paula Madureira
March 22, 2011
Elsa, you were a light that shone its brightest into each life you touched and for that we all thank you. You are and will always be an inspiration to us all. I think of you each time I see a flower bloom, a star shine or a moonrise.
All our love and peace to Filipa, Maya, Zé, Carla and the Dias Family.
All our love eternally,
Bela
Miluxa
Ana Paula and the entire Madureira Family
kikas vilas
March 22, 2011
Adeus Elsa! E dificil aceitar a realidade da vida! Na tua passagem pelas nossas vidas, deixaste um sorriso inesquecivel, uma palavra amiga. Foste uma verdadeira guerreira, uma super-mae, uma super-mulher. Foste uma heroina!
Estaras sempre nos nossos coracoes.
Descansa em paz!
Jody Norberg
March 22, 2011
Dear Tony & family...we are so sorry to hear of your loss. May memories of Elsa ease your heavy heart and put a smile on your face. We are here for you.
Love,
Jody, Chris & Cory
isabel neves
March 22, 2011
Missing you .....forever grateful for our friendship!
Guida Pereira
March 22, 2011
You are and always will be my inspiration. Your courage, strength and joy is a lesson to all of us all on how we owe it to ourselves to live our best life possible. x
Amélia Amaral
March 22, 2011
Querida amiga,foi uma benção ter-te conhecido. Foste exemplo de uma bravura fora de série!Obrigada pelo Amor que irradiaste. Obrigada por esse sorriso... Até um dia
constanca pinto
March 22, 2011
Ao Ze Filipa e Maya um grande Beijinho. Sei que o ceu esta agora mais brilhante. Ha uma estrela especial a olhar pelos tres. Da Elsa ficaram sempre no meu coracao as brincadeiras em Macau e um sorriso unico que nao se esquece. Constanca Lopes Pinto
Anabela Maia De Pablos
March 22, 2011
Rest in peace beautiful Elsa. You will always be with us. Love you.
Helder Matias
March 21, 2011
Condolencias to the estrela family
Silvia Azeredo
March 21, 2011
"Querida Elsa, teremos muitas saudades tua. És uma querida,estarás sempre nos nossos pensamentos e corações. Um beijinho grande."
Silvia Azeredo
Gloria Nogueira
March 21, 2011
Dear Dias family, We are sorry for the loss of your loved one. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you in this difficult time.
Our lives went separate ways but Elsa was always in Our thoughts
Antonio, Benvinda, Gloria and Carla DaSilva
Ana Catarina Teixeira
March 21, 2011
A tua luz nunca se apagará. És linda. E é bom ter-te como amiga. Soube a pouco, Elsinha. Quero muito mais tempo contigo. Um grande beijinho eterno.
Alicia Dias
March 21, 2011
Elsa, I miss you so much.
I don't even know what to say.
Manuel, Joan, and children Rosa
March 21, 2011
Condolences to the Dias Family. Rest in peace Elsa
Laurette Vitello
March 21, 2011
Dear Dias Family, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you in this time of great sadness.
with love,
Laurette Deaett & David Vitello
Elsa em Pawtucket RI
Clara Blodgett
March 21, 2011
Querida Elsinha, nao sei o que dizer...your smile will always brighten my days. When I feel down or sad I will think of you. I will remember our trip to Portugal with Zaza always. Thank you for coming back into my life a few years ago. I only wish I had slowed down enough to make more time in my life for you. I will always regret not having done that. I will miss you for ever....Clara
Maya Estrela
March 21, 2011
I love you Mommy! I miss you! I want you here with me.
Love,
your daughter that loves you! Maya
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