Elisa Maria McVey

On the evening of Tuesday, July 4, 2023, our beautiful and beloved Mamma (Nonna), Elisa Maria (Zamparutti) McVey, 98, of Guysville, Ohio, left us with dignity as she peacefully fell asleep and took her last breath. Her daughters, Linda Mirella Weiss, Gloria Melodia Barnhart and Simonetta Christina “Timbi” Matters were by her side giving her comfort during her day spent in the OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

Elisa was born March 27, 1925, in San Pietro, Italy. She attended and graduated from a private school as well as continued advanced education and received a degree in teaching. But her love and expertise as a seamstress is the skill that she was passionate about throughout her extraordinary life, which included her firsthand accounts of the horrors of war, hardships, sacrifices contrasted with an abundance of love, care for those in need, and forgiveness.

During World War II, she spent 14-months as a prisoner in a Nazi Germany forced labor airplane factory camp. After liberation and the end of World War II, she moved to Lido, Italy, where she worked at a PX for American GIs. Elisa communicated easily with the GIs due to her English language fluency.

In 1948, after marrying United States Army Sargent, Owen Dale McVey in Italy, they moved to Ohio, where they became parents to 11 children.

After Owen divorced Elisa in 1968, she solely raised their children and unselfishly blessed them with unspoiled, intense love and training on how to be respectful, independent, happy adults. The experiences she endured during and after the war proved to be a stalwart attribute that was present throughout her life and teachings.

The day before her death, she continued to live independently in the home where she nurtured and taught her 11 children, in addition to providing care for most of her grandchildren while their parents worked. Her love for vegetable and flower gardening was a constant throughout her life. Up until her death, she enjoyed fresh greens from her patio garden as well as those from that neighbors and friends brought to her.

In 1971, she was recognized by the National Partisan Associations of Italy for her participation as a volunteer of freedom and as a wounded partisan noncombatant fighter. And in 1980, the Office of the Order in Yugoslavia awarded her the Order of Merit for the People with a Silver Star medal.

Throughout her life, those who knew Elisa were instantly attracted to her. She had a beautiful, huge, caring, loving heart, and she was extremely humble and generous. Many were honored to receive from her, one or more of her personalized handmade cross-stitch gifts. At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, at age 94 in 2019, she volunteered her talents and made 1,000 masks for O’Bleness.

Elisa is survived by her children, Gary “Tino” (Marilyn) McVey, Terry Ray McVey, Cary McVey, Linda Mirella (Jerry) Weiss, Gloria Melodia (Bill) Barnhart, Simonetta Christina “Timbi” (Chris) Matters, and Steven “Rat” (Shellie) McVey, as well as son-in-law Roger Zimmerman; daughter-in-laws Mary McVey and Kathy McVey; and special, unofficially adopted son Tim Lavelle. Grandchildren Barry (Erin) McVey, Frances Dixon, Joshua Zimmerman, Nicolette Zimmerman, Angi (Dan) Hoy, Jacqueline Armstrong, Zachary McVey, Aaron (Alisha Skinner) McVey, Trisha (Nathan) Bail, Brooke (Kaleb Knecht) McVey, Julie McVey, Andrew Weiss, Isaac Weiss, Olivia (Jacob Koons) Hoon, Casey Matters, Dean (Kayla) Maffin, and Bridgette McVey. Special ex son-in-law, Wes Hoon. Second cousins Tony (Michelle Mildiner) Zamparutti and Louise (Chris Hanson) Zamparutti. Daughter of her belated WWII friends Lawrence & Licia Cosner, Viviana (Roger) Yost; and Lea (Delmonte) Mitchell. Special friends: Don and Peggy Saum, Ron and Merle Gustafson, as well as Veno and Romi Canderan. Her precious, gentle, female cat companion, Killer. Many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and many loving neighbors and friends.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Augusto Zamparutti and Luigia Burello; sisters, Erminia Zamparutti and Alba Zamero; ex-husband, Owen; sons, Marco McVey and Larry J. McVey; daughters, Nirvana Licia Zimmerman and Diana Graciella Dienoff; son-in-law, Jerome Dixon; daughter-in-law, Tina McVey; grandsons Neil Hoon and Michael Dixon; granddaughter Melissa Fowler-Dixon; TJ Hilleary; Rea Croley; and closer than a sister special friend/forced labor camp prisoner buddy, Licia Cosner.

At Elisa’s request, her remains were cremated. Calling hours for Celebration of Life for Elisa McVey will be held Saturday, September 9, 2023 from 2:30 pm to 5:30pm at 20969 Potter Road, Guysville, Ohio 45735. Questions, text either Linda 740.541.8998, Timbi 740.591.3487, or Gloria 740.590.3184. Please include your connection to Elisa or the family. Limited parking. Carpool, if possible. Please send your memories of Elisa, and your stories about her, to Gloria Barnhart, PO Box 73, Stewart, Ohio 45778 or email [email protected]. Please include your name, how you knew Elisa and your contact information. Arrangements were entrusted to Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home where you are encouraged to leave a note of condolence or share a special memory in the online guestbook at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com