Elsa Fairneny

Elsa Fairneny, also known as Elsina Liliana Margarita Celina D’Angelo Fairneny, died on July 17, 2024, at the home of her son David surrounded by loving family.  

Elsa was born in Orsogna, Italy on March 2, 1930, to Domenic D’Angelo and Leonina DiRico. She was the youngest of the family and is predeceased by her siblings Alfred, Aldo, Victor, Mary, Arthur, and Henry. She immigrated to the United States at age 8. 

On January 28, 1952, Elsa married Samuel Fairneny. They raised three sons: Michael, Steven, and David in Wellesley, MA. Their family continued to grow with daughters-in-law (JoAnn and Kathi), five grandchildren and their spouses (Joy and Todd, Ty and Caitlin, Laura and Alex, Steven and Sarah, and Lily), and eight great-grandchildren (Gavin, Colin, Alana, Brynn, Dylan, Robin, Clark, and Archer). 

Elsa cherished her family. She brought together her Italian culture with her husband’s Lebanese heritage. She was an incredible cook, hard worker, intelligent with a keen entrepreneurial spirit—often sharing her ideas of new “inventions.”  

The greatest honor for Elsa would be that, in her memory, we all treat one another with respect and love. She wrote to her grandchildren: “…but if you cheat or tell lies or do mean things to make folks cry and do not try to do what is right, then that does really matter.” 

Elsa will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren, special sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and so many more individuals whose lives she touched. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Visitation in the Holden, Dunn and Lawler Funeral Home, 55 High Rock St., Westwood on Tuesday July 23rd from 11am - Noon. Following the Visitation, a Celebration of Life Service will take place in the Funeral Home at Noon. Elsa will be buried at Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield with her family.  

Donations in memory of Elsa can be made to Hospice of the Good Shepherd, 160 Wells Ave, Newton, MA 02409.