Elsa Edith Stowell

Elsa Edith Stowell

curious, dutiful, exacting, kind-hearted, tough, hopeful

Elsa Edith (Nilsson) Stowell died on December 15, 2022, after a very long life and a very short illness. She was the daughter of Emil Alfred Nilsson and Johanna Ida (Guenther) Nilsson, the half-sister of Walter Gottlieb Wiede, the sister of Emil Oscar Nilsson, and for almost 60 years the wife of Robert Bob Stowell, who died on January 22, 2020.

Elsa was born on January 22, 1932, in the house her father built at 5 Yale Street in North Chelmsford--the only house she ever lived in. She grew up as an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, which was then the center of the Swedish immigrant community in South Lowell. Elsa sang in the choir and played center forward on the girls basketball team.

When her mother died in 1942, young Elsa became the woman of the house, taking care of her father as much as he took care of her. When her half-brother was killed in action in 1945, Elsa fought to have Yale Street renamed in his memory as Walter G. Wiede Street. (Years later, Elsa often had to fight to get the street signs spelled correctly.)

Elsa graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1949. Her yearbook listed her interests as corny jokes, skating, and cooking, and described her as a sweet and sincere friend. Elsa then worked for 11 years as a clerk, stenographer, and bookkeeper at Pratt & Forrest lumber yard in Lowell, where her duties were carried out efficiently, accurately, and neatly.

When a Catholic guy from Lowell named Bob asked her out, Elsa said yes. When they wanted to get married and some disapproved, Elsa eloped with him. And after they were married, Elsa left her job to start a family. Elsas interest in history helped their son Stephen find a career in historic preservation; her interest in art led to their son Scotts career in design. Elsa always made the best of things.

After Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease in 2013, Elsa dealt with everything Bob had always taken care of. Months later, she had a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Elsa not only survived but thrived, regaining all of her cognitive function and most of her mobility. Using a wheelchair, Elsa maintained a regular exercise regimen for the rest of her life.

Elsa repeatedly outlived everything from a broken neck to a COVID-19 infection. When Bobs dementia progressed, Elsa decided to move into memory care together so she could keep an eye on him. Wherever they were, Bob and Elsa kept making friends. And whenever Elsa met somebody in need, she wanted to help them. Elsa tried to do her best.

Elsa leaves her son Stephen Stowell, his wife Alyson (Garland) Stowell, and their daughter Kathryne Stowell, all in Chelmsford; her son Scott Stowell and his wife Carmen Morais in New York City; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and all the family, friends, doctors, nurses, therapists, aides, and more who helped her keep going, as she would say.

She loved animals (especially cats), anything lemon, ballroom dancing, breakfast, flowers, free brochures, maple walnut ice cream, meeting new people, mornings, photography, pickled herring, salmon, sharing an English muffin with Bob, shopping, trying new things, Turner Classic Movies, and the word wonderful. She would also love it if you made a donation to help animals at aspca.org.

STOWELL--Everybody is invited to ODONNELL FUNERAL HOME at 276 Pawtucket Street in Lowell from 4 to 7 pm on Tuesday to celebrate Elsas life. Elsas funeral service will be at 10 am on Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chelmsford, with her burial afterwards at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Chelmsford. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. ODonnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.

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