Eleanora 'Elsie' Blanchetti Tortorella, 88

Eleanora “Elsie” (Bianchetti) Tortorella, age 88, of Framingham, formerly a longtime resident of Natick, died Saturday, August 15, 2015, peacefully and in the comfort at Bethany Healthcare Center in Framingham a place that was her loving home for the past 7 years.

Tortorella was born in Framingham, daughter of the late Louis and Angela (Croci) Bianchetti.

She was raised in Framingham. Her parents owned a small neighborhood grocery store, Bianchetti’s Market and there she would help her parents before and after school.

Following graduation from Framingham High School in 1945, she attended Middlesex Secretarial School.

At age 26 she married Rocco N. Tortorella and settled in Natick.

Tortorella worked at U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (Natick Labs) for 13 years. When her husband accepted an engineering position, they moved to Alexandria, VA and both worked at the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Headquarters. They both retired in 1978 and moved back to Natick.

They traveled extensively in the US and Europe.

She always had a spiritual connection in the Catholic Faith and following the death of her husband in 1980, she found comfort being an active parishioner at St. Patrick Church in Natick. She taught CCD classes and loved being around children. She loved taking care of people and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

She also enjoyed the game of golf, entertaining, taking art lessons and cooking.

She is survived by her loving and devoted sister, Doris M. Norton of Framingham. She is also survived by her niece, Judy S. Norton of Framingham. She was the great aunt of Robert A. Norton and his wife Angela, Kelley S. Norton, Paul R. Norton and his wife Linda all of Framingham; and she was the great grandaunt of Ellie and Ruby Norton.

She was the aunt of the late Michael R. Norton who died in 2013.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Bethany Healthcare Center, 97 Bethany Road, Framingham, MA 01702.