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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Connelly, Elsa P.

Age 94

CONNELLY, Elsa P. Born in Trento, Italy on August 4, 1920 to Ernesto and Maria Rose Purim she survived the German invasion and Nazi occupation of Italy during World War II.

After the first American bombing of her town and the destruction of her home, she gathered her family and few belongings and escaped to the safety of the Northern Italian Alps.

She was imprisoned by the Germans, once for listening to the BBC radio.

Her father, an Austrian Jew was taken by the Nazi’s and after the war; she searched for her father who died in a concentration camp.

While in Rome, she met her husband, David L. Connelly an OSS Officer.

She traveled and lived in many places throughout the world during her lifetime as a wife of a CIA agent.

They eventually moved to Spokane, WA in 1979.

Her last adventurous move was to Minneapolis, MN to live with her daughter and family and she especially loved spending time with her great-grandson.

Elsa was a free spirit, who loved life and all of the adventures it brought for her.

Everyone she crossed paths with loved her.

Her last journey was taken on Sunday, February 1, 2015.

Elsa has touched many countless people throughout her life and travels and will never be forgotten.

Elsa’s spirit lives on with all that knew and loved her.

A service will be held on Saturday, February 7th at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane, WA.

Survivors include her son, Claude P. Connelly (Susan); two daughters: Ellen R. Damani and Cynthia M. Burns; grandchildren: Christopher Connelly, Charles Burns and Christina Burns; and great-grandson, Tabari Alexander.