Obituary of Elsie Ann Maddux

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Elsie Ann Paiva Maddux, 76, of Fresno, CA, on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 10 a.m. at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church. Elsie Ann returned peacefully from the arms of her family and friends into the arms of her Lord on Saturday, February 18, 2012, after a sudden illness. Elsie Ann was born on June 29, 1935 to Tony and Evelyn Paiva in Chico. She was raised in Chico and graduated from Chico High School in 1953. She attended Chico State before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area to raise her own family. In 1976, she moved to Fresno and spent many years in the real estate business there. She retired from the real estate business in 1996 and returned to school to earn her teaching certificate, which allowed her to fulfill her lifelong dream of working with children. Over the next 15 years she taught special needs children in various schools throughout Fresno County. Elsie Ann gave back to her community through volunteer work at hospitals, blood banks and Nazareth House in Fresno. She was a longtime parishoner of St. Anthony of Padua and Our Lady of Victory Catholic Churches in Fresno. She is survived by her loving companion of 30 years, Mr. Horst Simmross; her daughter, Kathy Marshall; her son, Craig Maddux; her two brothers, Tony and Jim Paiva; and her grandson, Gregory Dornay. Vistation will be held from 5 - 6 p.m. and a Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening, Feb. 23, 2012 at Brusie Funeral Home. Donations may be made in her memory to St. Judes Hospital for Children or Catholic Charities, in care of the funeral home. Elsie Ann's legacy is one of love. Her entire life was an example of selfless devotion to her friends, her family and to God. The void her passing leaves in all of us is matched only by the tremendous love she filled us with throughout her precious life.