Elvira Perna

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Elvira Perna passed away peacefully on March 24, 2017 at her residence while in the loving care of her family. She was born in the village of Cantalupo nel Sannio in Italy on January 2, 1921 to Camilla (Ranalli) and Thomas Gianfrancesco. Relishing her childhood years in her parent's beautiful home, she and her two younger sisters and mother were compelled to move to America where her father was working. She married Alfred "Al" Perna on September 2, 1939 in Anaconda at Saint Paul's Catholic Church followed by a wonderful honeymoon from Seattle to San Francisco, which lasted 30 days. They celebrated their seventy-sixth wedding anniversary on September 2, 2015 before Al's passing. Elvira enjoyed her garden which produced many fresh vegetables and worked tirelessly in canning and preserving fresh fruits. She was a outstanding cook preparing Italian dishes for her family and excellent homemade bread and rolls. Her children and their friends were treated to pizza before it became a favorite takeout. The Georgetown Lake cabin which she helped her husband build over the many years grew to be a favorite place especially for her immediate family and friends. Preceding her in death, husband Alfred "Al" Perna, her beloved daughter Linda Perna McNeil, sisters and brothers in laws, Nickie and Fred Petrovich and Toni and John Wind. Surviving son, Fred Perna, daughter and son in law, Nancy and Greg Skakles, grandchildren, Shayne Skakles, Marcy and Pat Gallagher and their children, Kiernan and Sean. Jeff and Lisa McNeil and their children, Ciara, Kenzie, Eric (Olivia) and their baby, Madden. Sister and brother in law, Carmie and Paul Sullivan. Nephew and nieces and their families, Toni Svaldi, Gary Petrovich, Shauna Hoiland, Callie Halvorson and Carin Sullivan. Memorials may be sent to Anaconda Pintler Hospice, 118 E. 7th St., Anaconda, MT or Community Hospital Foundation, 401 W. Pennsylvania St., Anaconda, MT. Services will be held at a later date.