(10/28/12) Elda E. Coppa (94) passed away at Scalabrini Nursing Home, on October 27th. She was a resident of Providence, and North Kingstown where she had summered for more than fifty years. Elda was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Vito L. Coppa. They had been married for 54 years.
Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late John and Eva (Fazzi) Petrucci. Elda graduated Summa Cum Laude from Classical High School, and Rhode Island College of Education. In 1943 she was maid of honor at the christening of the submarine USS Plaice that was sponsored by her cousin, Eleanor Fazzi. She later taught in the Providence School system for several years.
Elda was a communicant of St. Pius Church and St Francis de Sales. She was a Girl Scout leader, a long-time volunteer at Women & Infants Hospital, a member of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Rhode Island Medical Society, a class secretary for Rhode Island College (’38), a Veridame of Providence College, a member of the Sundial Garden Club, and she was active in the Shore Acres Community Association as well as the Elmhurst Arboretum Association and North Kingstown Women’s Club. A charter member of Wickford Yacht Club, she especially loved sailing aboard Special Delivery.
Elda was a wonderful cook and loved to host large gatherings of family members and friends. She enjoyed reading, swimming, boating, traveling, playing a multitude of board games and was an avid fan of Providence College basketball. Most of all, though, Elda was devoted to husband and her family.
She is survived by her brother, Rudolph Petrucci, and his wife Lucille, of Portsmouth and Scottsdale, AZ, and seven children: Gregory Coppa and his wife Abigail, Genevieve Meegan and her husband David, Michael Coppa and his wife Denise, Susan Coppa-Collins and her husband David, all of North Kingstown; John Coppa and his wife Susan of Warwick, Frank Coppa of Renssalaer, NY, and Thomas Coppa and his wife Melinda, of North Andover, MA.
She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren: Matthew, Celia and Peter Meegan, Alexis Francis and her husband Keith, Andrew, Charles, and Earle Coppa, Jason and Jesse Coppa, Timothy, Amanda and Sabrina Coppa, David Collins, III, and one great-grandchild, Sophia Francis.
Elda’s love, warmth, generosity, energy, example and advice will be missed by all who knew her.
Her funeral is Saturday at 8:30 a.m. from \\\"WOODLAWN\\\" Funeral Home 600 Pontiac Avenue Cranston followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Pius V Church, Providence. Burial will follow in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence. Calling hours Friday 4-8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Providence Chapter of the American Diabetes Association, 146 Clifford Street, Providence, RI 02903. Online condolences www.WoodlawnGattone.com
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