Elisa Piazza

Age 47, of Naperville, passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2006. She died from a stroke as a complication of an advanced infection. Elisa was born in Mahopac, New York, January 12, 1959. The family relocated to Ottawa, IL, when Elisa was very young, and Elisa graduated from Ottawa High School in 1977. She met her husband, David, while attending Benedictine University in Lisle, IL. Elisa graduated from Benedictine in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She went on to receive a second degree earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rush University in Chicago in 1983. Elisa practiced as a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse at Rush University for several years while her husband attended medical school and completed his residency in surgery. Elisa served as a chairperson of the auxiliary of Our Children's Homestead to raise money for DCFS children in foster care. Her last job was at the Center for Surgery, Naperville, as a recovery room nurse. Elisa is the beloved wife of David for 23 years; loving mother of David (21), Alex (18), Emily (15) and Nicole (13); fond sister of Nika Irlandi Sent of Venice, Italy; daughter of Tonka, nee Paic of Ottawa, IL, and the late Louis Irlandi, formerly of Marseilles, IL. Elisa will be remembered as a good friend to many, a wonderful aunt, and a proud godmother to Michelle Piazza, Sam Piazza, and Valerie Alanis. She loved to host large holiday parties at her home, to bake wonderful appetizers and cheesecake and to decorate her home for the Fourth of July, Halloween, and Christmas. She especially enjoyed attending 6 a.m. mass at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, in Naperville, where she also served as a Eucharistic Minister. She loved to travel, especially to visit her sister in Italy and had just completed a trip to Venice and Sicily in July. She loved to fish and caught four crappie and two blue gills on September 3, at Lake Shabbona, just three days prior to entering the hospital. Her husband and children love her very much and already miss her dearly.

Visitation Thursday, October 19 and Friday, October 20, 4:00-9:00 P.M. at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville. Services will begin Saturday, October 21, 10:00 A.M. from the funeral home and will proceed to an 11:00 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 2220 Lisson Rd., Naperville with Rev. Tony Nugent officiating. Interment: Naperville Cemetery, Naperville. In lieu of flowers, memorials to: Benedictine University, "In Memory of Elisa Piazza", 5700 College Rd., Lisle, IL 60532. Arrangements by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, Naperville, IL. For info. (630)355-0213.