Elinor Mary Cavallo-James

Elinor DiProspero Cavallo-James, affectionately known as Ellie, passed away at home on March 13, 2025, exactly four months shy of her 100th birthday.
Born on July 13, 1925, in Norwalk, CT, Ellie was the fifth of six children to Andrew and Sadie DiProspero. Despite being named Elinor, she always preferred to be called Ellie, a name that better reflected her vibrant and spirited personality.
During World War II, Ellie, at the age of 18, worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" at Yankee Metal in Norwalk, where she crafted lightbulbs for submarines. In 1950, she met and married Ed Cavallo Sr. They settled in Norwalk, where Ellie worked as a secretary for PerkinElmer. In 1963, the family relocated to Bethel, CT, due to the construction of the new Route 7, which passed through their home and neighbourhood.
As a mother of young children, Ellie found herself in need of work and took a job at Pepperidge Farm as a bread maker. Always known for her humor, she would joke that she "needed a job, so she kneaded the dough!" Later, Ellie followed her passion for nursing by enrolling at Henry Abbott Tech, where she earned her certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She spent many years working in the labor and delivery unit at Danbury Hospital.
Ellie's thirst for knowledge led her to pursue further education at Western Connecticut University. While there, she took a sabbatical to Barcelona, Spain, where she broadened her horizons and eventually made the bold decision to transition into teaching. At Broadview Junior High School in Danbury, Ellie taught Spanish to many of the babies she had delivered years earlier, creating an extraordinary connection with her students.
Ellie would escape to her beach house in Wilmington, NC on summer vacations. One memorable summer, she drove from North Carolina to California in her Roadtrek camper with 12-year-old Izzy and her dog, Lance in tow-just to dip her toes in the Pacific Ocean. However, they arrived at night and, in true Ellie fashion, decided to keep driving instead!
In her "free" time from teaching, Ellie started quilting – from traditional patterns to unique quilts made from soccer t-shirts, if you received one as a gift, you knew you had a piece of Ellie's heart. She became such an accomplished quilter, that she eventually opened shop in New Milford called "Quilting with L E"!
Ellie continued teaching for nearly the rest of her life! She retired in 2014 at the ripe age of 88. She was celebrated by family, friends and colleagues (from both nursing and teaching) and was honored to have the Mayor of Danbury, Mark Boughton, attend her retirement banquet.
Following her retirement, Ellie became a devoted fan of the New York Yankees, Michael Kay, and Lester Holt. She enjoyed birdwatching, playing board games, and could repeat, verbatim, the lines from her favorite movies, including The King's Speech, Love Actually, and Mystic Pizza.
Ellie was predeceased by her first husband, Edward Cavallo Sr. (d. 1988), daughter Ellen Cavallo Buccitti (d. 2023), son Alan Cavallo (d. 2020) and her second husband, Larry James (d. 1996). She will be sadly missed by her sons Edward Cavallo Jr. and Robert Cavallo Sr. As well as her son in law David Buccitti and daughter in law Catherine Cavallo. Ellie also lovingly adopted her great-grandchild, Isabelle, and is survived by her grandchildren: Christina, Michael, Robert Jr., and Torianne along with great-grandchildren Isabelle, Andrew, Trevor, and Jordan.
A visitation will be held at the Brookfield Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 10:30 AM.
Ellie's legacy is one of boundless love, laughter, and perseverance. She will be remembered not only for her accomplishments but for the joy and warmth she brought to everyone around her.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, PO Box 3571 • Newtown, CT 06470. Sanctuary Property: 8 Commerce Rd • Newtown, CT info@cvhfoundation.org