Valdes, Elsa Maria

( nee Valdes) Passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 while surrounded by her loving family in the tranquility of her own home at the Golden Age of 94. Beloved wife of the late Roberto Manuel for a loving 36 years; devoted mother of Robert ( Donna); loving daughter of the late Martin Alfredo and the late Maria Teresa ( nee Pedrosa) Valdes; fond grandmother of Robert ( Dr. Kristin), Pamela ( Reid) Bruggeman and Alexander; dear sister of the late Aristides ( Pilar) Valdes and the late Carlos ( Lolita) Valdes; dear aunt of many. Elsa was born in Santa Clara, Cuba. From a very young age, Elsa had great energy and an indomitable spirit. Elsa read books and taught herself to read, speak and write at a level much higher than her formal education. Her cursive lettering remained the envy of all those who saw it. Elsa also taught herself to design and sew dresses and became a highly demanded seamstress in her youth. The custom dresses Elsa made for countless women were legendary. Elsa had a natural amazing talent for sketching and drawing that was obtained without any formal art training. Elsa was also an amazing cook. Her meals were delicious works of art with meticulous attention to every detail. In 1950, Elsa moved from the city of Nuevitas to Havana. There Elsa met career military officer Roberto Valdes. In 1953, Elsa and Roberto were married. Late in 1956, their only child Robert was born. Like many other Cubans, the Valdes family sought to leave the revolution and took the only action possible which was to try to emigrate to the United States. In 1967 after years of bureaucratic hurdles, the Valdes family was granted permission to exit Cuba and arrived in Miami, Florida. At that time, the better jobs were in the industrial northern U. S. cities rather than the resort town of Miami. The Valdes family decided to move to Chicago because of work opportunities in addition to having relatives there. Elsa and Roberto quickly found factory jobs with Zenith Electronics in Chicago where they worked for more than 20 years until retirement. The Valdes family settled in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood and lived there until moving to the western suburbs in the late 70’ s. Elsa had an outgoing personality and easily made friends. Anyone Elsa overheard speaking in Spanish instantly became her friend. Devotion to her family, generosity and loyalty to her friends were the foundation of her character. Elsa enjoyed cooking and making Cuban coffee for anyone who visited her home. Robert’s friends knew anytime they came to the Valdes house they would not be allowed to leave without eating Elsa’s incredible Cuban food. Elsa was a simple woman, a true friend, honest, genuine and incredibly generous. Elsa will be dearly missed by her loving family and many friends. Family and Friends are to gather for the Visitation on Friday, May 4, 2018 from 3: 00 to 8: 00 p. m. at Russo’s Hillside

Chapels, 4500 Roosevelt Road, Hillside, Illinois 60162 ( located between Mannheim and Wolf Road). Funeral to follow Saturday, May 5, 2018. Family and friends are to gather directly at Visitation Parish 779 South York Road, Elmhurst, Illinois 60126 for a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial celebrated promptly at 9: 15 a. m. Entombment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Christ the King Garden Mausoleum. For additional information call ( 708) 449- 5300. Please visit Elsa’s personal tribute website at

www.russohillsidechapels.com and sign her guestbook.