Elsie Marie Tonelli

August 25, 1926 - January 17, 2023

Elsie Marie Tonelli, native of Daly City, born August 25, 1926, died peacefully January 17, 2023...but, a lot went on in the 96 years in between those two dates. On her way to heaven she was surrounded by her family listening to Frank Sinatra. Elsie was the baby of Rose and Lazarus Belli and the little sister of Carol and Artie. Elsie attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School; she was a proud Jefferson High School Indian...”Give ‘Em The Axe”...and the College of San Mateo. She then got a job as a soda jerk at the Central Drug Store where she met the love of her life, Dino. They eloped two years later when she was 19 years old. Eventually, Dino and Elsie bought the Central Drug Company and they own it to this day...in fact, she would be at work right now, if she could. Elsie and Dino prided themselves in their personal (and we mean personal) relationships with their customers. They truly defined the neighborhood pharmacy, unlike Walgreens, her least favorite pharmacy. Everyone on Mission Street knew and loved Elsie and Dino, from Joe’s Fish Grotto to the Chicken Coop, and of course, the infamous Farrah’s Uniform Store, which clothed the majority of Catholic school kids in the Bay Area. Up until six months ago, Elsie was still going to work, doing the books, ordering and pricing all of the latest items, and ensuring that the shelves were stocked with spearmint leaves.

When Sandi was born in 1951, Dino, Elsie, Diane, and Linda moved from Nonni Mary’s house on Theresa street to 91 Windsor Drive in Westlake, Daly City. After the move, Jerry, Carol, Paul, and Gina were quickly welcomed to the tight-knit Our Lady of Mercy Community, of which Dino and Elsie helped to build along with countless friends: the Murray’s, Luttringer’s, Fambrini’s, Enright’s Columbini’s, McKenna’s, Pacelli’s, Kelcheva’s, Baciocco’s, Tripaldi’s, Grealish’s, Herman’s, Symes, and Feeney’s, to name a few.

Faith, family, fun, laughter, singing, martinis, and dancing were central to Elsie’s life. She lived 96 years and has seen it all...War and the Depression, death of her Dino, death of her daughter, Carol, and many family members and friends. She relished the Super Bowl and World Series victories. She was a business owner, mother of 7, Nonni of 18, Great-Nonni of 23; Saint Ignatius Honorary Alumna. She chaired the first Saint Ignatius Fashion show. Elsie ran for Daly City Council-she lost, but gave it a helluva run.

All of the joys and challenges of being a matriarch of a very large Italian family made her extremely open-minded, forgiving, and ensuring that humor was always present-it had to be!!

She left behind a legacy to be carried on for decades to come.

Icon, Legend, One-ofa-Kind, Spark-plug, full of heart and energy are all descriptors of Elsie Marie Tonelli.

Elsie is survived by her spectacular children, Diane Rhein (Ed), Linda Bohnert (Ed), Sandi Devencenzi (Dave), Jerry Tonelli, (Nikki), Carol Galletta, deceased, (Joe), Paul Tonelli (Lisa), Gina Thomson (Ron). 18 Grandchildren: (Rhein): Bridget Rhein, Tony Rhein (Meg), Amy Hunt (Rich), Elisa Marcaletti (Rob) (Bohnert): Stephanie Aguirre (Paul), Kimberly Cody (Patrick); Michael Bohnert (Megan) (Devencenzi): Danielle Cronin (Paul), Michelle Rhein (David (Tonelli): Marrisa Tonelli, Roberta Moss (Wyatt), Celsa Tonelli, Dino Tonelli (Galletta): Nick Galletta (Jessica); Gianna Galletta (Thomson): Jeffrey Thomson (Jason), Katie Thomson, Jack Thomson, 23 Great Grandchildren: (Rhein): Sophia Peterson; Sadie, Cassidy, Rich Hunt; Mia, Gemma, and Cara Marcaletti; Dominic and Olivia Rhein (Bohnert): Reese, Emma, and Katharine Elsie Bohnert; Lindy Aguirre (Devencenzi): Joseph, Marco, and Francesca Cronin; Leonardo and Alexandria Rhein (Tonelli): Wesley, Oliver, and Alice Moss (Galletta): Jackson and Ryan Galletta.

Friends may visit after 6:00pm, Monday January 23rd, 2023 at Our Lady of Angels Church, 1721 Hillside Drive, Burlingame where a vigil service will be held at 7:00pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, January 24th at 11:00am also at O.L.A. A reception will follow the mass. Private family interment Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Elsie’s honor may be made either to the Carol Galletta AMES and Resource Center, 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, California, 94010; or to the Elsie and Dino Tonelli Family Scholarship, or to the CATS Program (Center for Academics and Targeted Support) at Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, 2001 37th Avenue, San Francisco, 94116.