Obituary of Elsie Louise Stanley

Elsie Louise (Koll) Stanley passed away peacefully on September 10, 2017 at home in Santa Cruz, California, in the presence of loved ones. She was born on September 24, 1917 to Leo and Margaret Koll in Mapleton, Iowa, where she met her beloved husband of 65 years, Joe E. Stanley. Elsie moved by train with four young daughters from Iowa to San Jose in 1946, where Joe had prepared a home and where they eventually added two more daughters to their family. They moved to Santa Cruz in 1960. Elsie's greatest pleasures involved family gatherings in her home on special occasions and dancing with Joe. Elsie was strong in her faith and convictions. She loved dressmaking and writing letters to her far-flung family and friends. She was a member of Holy Cross Church and attended the Shrine of St. Joseph. Elsie was preceded in death by her husband Joe in 2001, and daughter, Margaret Stember, as well as her parents and brothers Edwin, Leonard, Robert and Raymond. She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Zausch (Bob) of Idaho, Betty Owens of Santa Cruz, Jeanette Hicks (Sandy) of San Francisco, Susan Hernandez (Basil) of San Jose, and Carole Terras (Ken) of Manteca; 19 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and a large extended family, all of whom she loved and touched deeply. A Rosary will be held on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at the Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz. A Funeral Mass will be held at Mission Santa Cruz, 130 Emmett St., Santa Cruz on Monday, Sept. 18 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery at 2271 7th Avenue in Santa Cruz. The family wishes to extend its gratitude to Hospice of Santa Cruz County and to Joyce and Leticia for their compassionate care in her final months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elsie's memory to Hospice of Santa Cruz County or to a favorite charity.