Search by Name

Search by Name

Elsa Raven Obituary

September 21, 1929 - November 2, 2020 Elsa Rabinowitz, better known by her stage name Elsa Raven, died peacefully at home on November 2, 2020, at the age of 91. She was born on September 21, 1929, in Charleston, SC, the fourth child of Louis and Rosalie Rabinowitz.Elsa started her acting career on stage in New York City, where she also assisted Joseph Papp in bringing the Free Shakespeare Festival to Central Park.Elsa was a character actress who had small but memorable parts in many movies - among them the Save the Clock Tower lady in the original Back to the Future, the realtor who sold the house in Amityville Horror, John Malkovich's landlady in In the Line of Fire, Gertrude Stein in The Moderns, the mother who lost her son in Fearless, Ida Strauss in Titanic (where most of her scenes were cut, but she was featured in the Celine Dion video as half of the older couple in the stateroom where water poured in). She had regular TV roles as Inga the Swedish maid on Amen, as Vinnie Terranova's mother Carlotta on Wiseguy, as Lucille on Days of Our Lives, and as Tugboat Tessie on General Hospital.She was a proud voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, diligently watching many movies every year.Elsa will be remembered for her great kindness and generosity, as well as the magic she brought into the lives of her 15 adoring nieces and nephews. Her siblings Ida Schwartz, Faye Olasov, Ben Rabinowitz and Mervin Rabinowitz predeceased her, as did her nephew Nathan Olasov. She is survived by her sister-in-law Lynne Rabinowitz and her large extended family. The family wishes to thank her friends/caregivers Katsy Chappell and Yenni Maruanaya.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Los Angeles Times from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Elsa Raven

Not sure what to say?





0 Entries

Be the first to post a memory or condolences.

Make a Donation
in Elsa Raven's name

Memorial Events
for Elsa Raven

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support Elsa's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Elsa Raven's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more