Elvira Maria Turtoro Amps

08/15/1934 - 10/26/2025

(Age 91)
Elvira Turtoro Amps passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the age of 91 after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose compassion and generosity touched everyone she met. Her warmth and light were felt by all who knew her.

Born in the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Elvira moved as a young girl with her brother and sisters to Naples, Italy, where she was raised and educated at a Catholic convent during World War II. She later immigrated to the United States, arriving with limited English but a remarkable determination to learn the language and build a new life.

While her husband, an Army officer, served in Vietnam, Elvira worked a variety of odd jobs to support her family. Although she was a homemaker most of her life, she began a new chapter in her 60s when she joined Freddie Mac as a Single-Family Loan Assistant. In that role, she researched and analyzed mortgage notes and performed data inquiry for 13 years. She was known for her energy, her dedication, and the smile that never left her face.

Elvira leaves behind her five beloved children: Primarosa Watts, Gioia Perry, James Amps II, Roy Amps, and Melissa Amps. She will also be deeply missed by her grandchildren, Serena and Nicole Perry, Nathan, Dante, and Tiana Watts, and her great-grandchildren Poppy Porterfield, Dante Watts Jr., and Gianni Watts. She is also survived by her loving children's spouses Kevin Perry, Mary Ann Amps, and Ryan Porterfield, and by extended family in Naples, Italy, including her dear nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 6 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, 21370 St Theresa Lane, Ashburn, VA 20147.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to support St. Theresa's funeral or food ministries.