Assunta "Elsie" Calandro

Assunta (Elsie) Calandro, 92, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, passed away peacefully with her loving children by her side on May 14, 2025, after a courageous 7-year battle from a debilitating stroke. She was also a breast cancer survivor.  A lifelong resident of West Haven, Elsie was born on June 22, 1932, to Angelo Gabriel DiNello and Mary Teresa (Romano) DiNello.  She was predeceased by her loving husband, Edward S. Calandro, to whom she was married for 50 years.

A graduate of West Haven High School, Elsie went on to work for the Armstrong Rubber Company for 10 years as a secretary.  Later, she worked at the University of New Haven for over 30 years as an executive secretary.

Elsie was a woman of many talents.  These included crocheting, ceramics, chair caning, sewing, gardening, and greatest of all, cooking and baking.  She was renowned for her Italian Easter pies, pickled eggplant, eggplant parmesan and ewand (angel wings).  She was a very generous person and was always creating things for others.

She loved sports. In her younger years, she played basketball and volleyball.  She also coached both sports, most notably as the volleyball coach at St. Lawrence School where the team won the league championship many times. Elsie was also a devout fan of UCONN Women’s basketball.

Elsie's core foundation was her faith and family.  She established a loving home with her husband Eddie, where everyone was welcome. 

Elsie is survived by her daughter, Mary Joanne Wcislo and son in law Mark, her son Edward Gabriel, who lovingly cared for her for these 7 years, and granddaughter, Katherine Cox. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and friends, too many to name.  She was predeceased by her 10 siblings, Anthony, Filomeno, Alec, James, Pasquale, John and Ralph Dinello and sisters Carmelina Velleca, Anna DeNora and Mary Baccki.

Her children would like to thank her many caregivers, especially Christine, Stephanie and Clara, for their loving attention to their mother.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the West Haven Funeral Home at the Green, 662 Savin Avenue, West Haven, CT from 4 pm until 7 pm.  On Tuesday morning, a Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 o’clock in St. Louis Church of St. John XXIII Parish, 89 Bull Hill Lane, West Haven.  Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery at 871 Campbell Ave, West Haven in the family plot.  Please go to www.westhavenfuneral.com to sign the online guest book.

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