Elsa Mary (Millette) Wright, 96, of Fairhaven died peacefully on Friday, July 13, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Henry "Harry" Claire Wright. Born on October 2, 1921 in Long Beach, California, she was the only child of a British mother and a French-Canadian father.
Elsa is remembered as a woman with an indomitable spirit who met every life challenge with fortitude and dignity. A woman ahead of her time, she graduated from nursing school as valedictorian of her class at age 45 in 1967 while still raising five children at home. She continued her studies in respiratory therapy and became a licensed respiratory therapist. Elsa worked at St. Luke’s Hospital for many years. She helped to establish the hospital’s respiratory therapy school and was the clinical instructor for the many years the school was in operation. After retirement she was asked to return to the department part-time to manage accreditation compliance. Years following her second retirement, students and colleagues alike visited and wrote to Elsa to thank her for her mentorship and the profound impact she had on their personal and professional lives.
At seventeen years old, Elsa met and fell in love with Harry Wright, the love of her life. They married shortly after they met and over a twenty-year span, had seven children. Her adult children credit Elsa and Harry as parents who insisted on their children’s education, self-reliance and independence. Because Elsa and Harry were so deeply devoted to each other, they set an example for their children of what a loving marriage should be. It was her greatest gift to her children.
Beyond her family and career, Elsa was passionate about music and dancing, especially ballroom and square dancing. Many Saturday night of their married lives, Elsa and Harry left home for the dance floor where they lost themselves to each other and the rhythms of their music. Dancing with Harry was one of Elsa’s greatest pleasures in life.
Elsa is survived by her seven children: Patricia Dextradeur of Fort Myers, FL; Judith Axtell and her husband Robert, of Wilmington, DE; Jane Godfrey and her husband Clyde, of Tiverton, RI; Michael Wright and his wife Betsey Olson, of Tokyo, Japan; Dr. Steven Wright and his wife Bev, of Providence, RI; Lisa Wright and her husband Bill Soares, of Fairhaven; and Christine Conrod and husband Michael, of Plymouth. Elsa is also survived by nine grandchildren; Karen Bottorff, Jill Pedersen, Scott Dextradeur, Matt Axtell, Holly Winje, Leah Godfrey, Sera Godfrey-Kaplan, B. Michael Wright, Bethany Wright, and 15 great-grandchildren; Christian Bottorff, Brian Bottorff, Hailey Pedersen, Maggie Dextradeur, Jake Dextradeur, Carson Axtell, Maris Axtell, Etta Winje, Nola Winje, Maddux Weber, Mirabelle Weber, Zeplin Grant , Kivie Kaplan, Jack Wright, Joseph Wright, and one on the way.
Her funeral will be held Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St. New Bedford. Calling hours are from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Julie Billiart Parish, 494 Slocum Road, Dartmouth. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Bedford. Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Elsa’s amazing well-lived life. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Elsa is remembered as a woman with an indomitable spirit who met every life challenge with fortitude and dignity. A woman ahead of her time, she graduated from nursing school as valedictorian of her class at age 45 in 1967 while still raising five children at home. She continued her studies in respiratory therapy and became a licensed respiratory therapist. Elsa worked at St. Luke’s Hospital for many years. She helped to establish the hospital’s respiratory therapy school and was the clinical instructor for the many years the school was in operation. After retirement she was asked to return to the department part-time to manage accreditation compliance. Years following her second retirement, students and colleagues alike visited and wrote to Elsa to thank her for her mentorship and the profound impact she had on their personal and professional lives.
At seventeen years old, Elsa met and fell in love with Harry Wright, the love of her life. They married shortly after they met and over a twenty-year span, had seven children. Her adult children credit Elsa and Harry as parents who insisted on their children’s education, self-reliance and independence. Because Elsa and Harry were so deeply devoted to each other, they set an example for their children of what a loving marriage should be. It was her greatest gift to her children.
Beyond her family and career, Elsa was passionate about music and dancing, especially ballroom and square dancing. Many Saturday night of their married lives, Elsa and Harry left home for the dance floor where they lost themselves to each other and the rhythms of their music. Dancing with Harry was one of Elsa’s greatest pleasures in life.
Elsa is survived by her seven children: Patricia Dextradeur of Fort Myers, FL; Judith Axtell and her husband Robert, of Wilmington, DE; Jane Godfrey and her husband Clyde, of Tiverton, RI; Michael Wright and his wife Betsey Olson, of Tokyo, Japan; Dr. Steven Wright and his wife Bev, of Providence, RI; Lisa Wright and her husband Bill Soares, of Fairhaven; and Christine Conrod and husband Michael, of Plymouth. Elsa is also survived by nine grandchildren; Karen Bottorff, Jill Pedersen, Scott Dextradeur, Matt Axtell, Holly Winje, Leah Godfrey, Sera Godfrey-Kaplan, B. Michael Wright, Bethany Wright, and 15 great-grandchildren; Christian Bottorff, Brian Bottorff, Hailey Pedersen, Maggie Dextradeur, Jake Dextradeur, Carson Axtell, Maris Axtell, Etta Winje, Nola Winje, Maddux Weber, Mirabelle Weber, Zeplin Grant , Kivie Kaplan, Jack Wright, Joseph Wright, and one on the way.
Her funeral will be held Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St. New Bedford. Calling hours are from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Julie Billiart Parish, 494 Slocum Road, Dartmouth. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Bedford. Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Elsa’s amazing well-lived life. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Elsa Mary (Millette) Wright, 96, of Fairhaven died peacefully on Friday, July 13, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Henry "Harry" Claire Wright. Born on October 2, 1921 in Long Beach, California, she was the only child of a British mother and a French-Canadian father.
Elsa is remembered as a woman with an indomitable spirit who met every life challenge with fortitude and dignity. A woman ahead of her time, she graduated from nursing school as valedictorian of her class at age 45 in 1967 while still raising five children at home. She continued her studies in respiratory therapy and became a licensed respiratory therapist. Elsa worked at St. Luke’s Hospital for many years. She helped to establish the hospital’s respiratory therapy school and was the clinical instructor for the many years the school was in operation. After retirement she was asked to return to the department part-time to manage accreditation compliance. Years following her second retirement, students and colleagues alike visited and wrote to Elsa to thank her for her mentorship and the profound impact she had on their personal and professional lives.
At seventeen years old, Elsa met and fell in love with Harry Wright, the love of her life. They married shortly after they met and over a twenty-year span, had seven children. Her adult children credit Elsa and Harry as parents who insisted on their children’s education, self-reliance and independence. Because Elsa and Harry were so deeply devoted to each other, they set an example for their children of what a loving marriage should be. It was her greatest gift to her children.
Beyond her family and career, Elsa was passionate about music and dancing, especially ballroom and square dancing. Many Saturday night of their married lives, Elsa and Harry left home for the dance floor where they lost themselves to each other and the rhythms of their music. Dancing with Harry was one of Elsa’s greatest pleasures in life.
Elsa is survived by her seven children: Patricia Dextradeur of Fort Myers, FL; Judith Axtell and her husband Robert, of Wilmington, DE; Jane Godfrey and her husband Clyde, of Tiverton, RI; Michael Wright and his wife Betsey Olson, of Tokyo, Japan; Dr. Steven Wright and his wife Bev, of Providence, RI; Lisa Wright and her husband Bill Soares, of Fairhaven; and Christine Conrod and husband Michael, of Plymouth. Elsa is also survived by nine grandchildren; Karen Bottorff, Jill Pedersen, Scott Dextradeur, Matt Axtell, Holly Winje, Leah Godfrey, Sera Godfrey-Kaplan, B. Michael Wright, Bethany Wright, and 15 great-grandchildren; Christian Bottorff, Brian Bottorff, Hailey Pedersen, Maggie Dextradeur, Jake Dextradeur, Carson Axtell, Maris Axtell, Etta Winje, Nola Winje, Maddux Weber, Mirabelle Weber, Zeplin Grant , Kivie Kaplan, Jack Wright, Joseph Wright, and one on the way.
Her funeral will be held Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St. New Bedford. Calling hours are from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Julie Billiart Parish, 494 Slocum Road, Dartmouth. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Bedford. Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Elsa’s amazing well-lived life. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Elsa is remembered as a woman with an indomitable spirit who met every life challenge with fortitude and dignity. A woman ahead of her time, she graduated from nursing school as valedictorian of her class at age 45 in 1967 while still raising five children at home. She continued her studies in respiratory therapy and became a licensed respiratory therapist. Elsa worked at St. Luke’s Hospital for many years. She helped to establish the hospital’s respiratory therapy school and was the clinical instructor for the many years the school was in operation. After retirement she was asked to return to the department part-time to manage accreditation compliance. Years following her second retirement, students and colleagues alike visited and wrote to Elsa to thank her for her mentorship and the profound impact she had on their personal and professional lives.
At seventeen years old, Elsa met and fell in love with Harry Wright, the love of her life. They married shortly after they met and over a twenty-year span, had seven children. Her adult children credit Elsa and Harry as parents who insisted on their children’s education, self-reliance and independence. Because Elsa and Harry were so deeply devoted to each other, they set an example for their children of what a loving marriage should be. It was her greatest gift to her children.
Beyond her family and career, Elsa was passionate about music and dancing, especially ballroom and square dancing. Many Saturday night of their married lives, Elsa and Harry left home for the dance floor where they lost themselves to each other and the rhythms of their music. Dancing with Harry was one of Elsa’s greatest pleasures in life.
Elsa is survived by her seven children: Patricia Dextradeur of Fort Myers, FL; Judith Axtell and her husband Robert, of Wilmington, DE; Jane Godfrey and her husband Clyde, of Tiverton, RI; Michael Wright and his wife Betsey Olson, of Tokyo, Japan; Dr. Steven Wright and his wife Bev, of Providence, RI; Lisa Wright and her husband Bill Soares, of Fairhaven; and Christine Conrod and husband Michael, of Plymouth. Elsa is also survived by nine grandchildren; Karen Bottorff, Jill Pedersen, Scott Dextradeur, Matt Axtell, Holly Winje, Leah Godfrey, Sera Godfrey-Kaplan, B. Michael Wright, Bethany Wright, and 15 great-grandchildren; Christian Bottorff, Brian Bottorff, Hailey Pedersen, Maggie Dextradeur, Jake Dextradeur, Carson Axtell, Maris Axtell, Etta Winje, Nola Winje, Maddux Weber, Mirabelle Weber, Zeplin Grant , Kivie Kaplan, Jack Wright, Joseph Wright, and one on the way.
Her funeral will be held Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St. New Bedford. Calling hours are from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Julie Billiart Parish, 494 Slocum Road, Dartmouth. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Bedford. Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Elsa’s amazing well-lived life. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
