Elsie Marie Sheets (neePagliei) On the evening of March 31, 2020, Elsie passed away, peacefully, of natural causes. Elsie was comforted by her family members at Brandywine Dresher Estates in Dresher, PA. She was 98 years young.
Beloved wife of the late Everett Osborne Sheets M.D. Devoted mother of Deborah Shaffer (Ron), Raymond Sheets (Mary), Michele Pettinelli (Frank) and Lisa Sheets. Loving grand mother of Vanessa Paddock (Joe), Lauren Sheets (Adam), Brielle Pettinelli, Jonathan Shaffer, Andrew Pettinelli and Christian Pettinelli. Treasured great grand mom of Genevieve, Joey, Lachlan and Luke.
Elsie was born and raised in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. She was the daughter of Italian immigrants, Luigi and Michelina (Gagliardi) Pagliei. She had four brothers, Joseph (D), Vincent (D), Frank, age 96, of San Antonio, Texas and Louis (D). Elsie attended Our Lady of Consolation elementary school and Hallahan High School. She worked as an Administrative Assistant in center city, Philadelphia until she met the love of her life, Ossie, a medical resident at Hahnemann hospital. They were married in 1948 and later moved to Ossie’s hometown, Beaver Falls, PA where he practiced medicine beside his father. After Ossie’s return from The Korean War, the couple settled in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia where they lived, worked, and raised their family as members of the St. Matthew Church parish community for 47 years.
As office manager of her husband’s thriving General medicine practice, she was cherished by many of the patients whom she welcomed with her big smile and warm heart. When she wasn’t busy raising her family, she was hosting friends and neighbors around her kitchen table. Elsie was a phenomenal cook and she enjoyed watching others eat a hardy meal. Her pizza and meatballs were famous among her friends and family. She never used a recipe and claimed the secret was in the “feel and taste”. On Sundays the Sheet’s family gathered with those who were lucky enough to find a seat at her elegant dining room table. Elsie was a strong and bold woman who lived life fully. When she was able to steal away from the family she treasured, she enjoyed traveling to Italy, a strong drink, a cigarette, a good bargain, and a late-night game of craps. Elsie always played the hard ways because a sure bet was not as exciting.
During her later years she spent most of her time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at the “shore” house in Longport, NJ. She loved her babies and was always excited when they came for a visit. Elsie nursed her husband through a long illness until he passed away in February 2018. She was fiercely independent and had a lust for life to the very end. On Saturday, April 4, 2020, a private service was held at John F. Fluehr & Sons Inc. Funeral Home, Philadelphia, PA followed by her internment at St. Dominic Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA. Memorial services are planned for a future date.
Donations in her honor can be made online at: COVID-19 Better Together Fund, Jefferson.edu/COVIDFunding Checks made payable to ‘Jefferson’ may be sent to: Office of Institutional Advancement, 125 S. 9th Street, Suite 600, Phila, PA 19107.
