Elsie Mae Pianalto

Elsie Mae Pianalto, 86 of Tontitown, Arkansas passed from this life Thursday, March 15, 2018 at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Arkansas. She was born October 16, 1931 in Tontitown, Arkansas, the daughter of Pete Fiori and Mary Cortiana Fiori. Elsie Mae married the love of her life Gabriel Dominic Pianalto on January 3rd, 1951. Elsie Mae graduated from Springdale High School, was crowned Queen Concordia of the Tontitown Grape Festival in 1949, and worked as a waitress at the Venesian Inn for over 50 years. Elsie Mae devoted her life to her soulmate Gabe, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that she loved so much. Family gatherings with the sound of stringed instruments and songs being sung always made Elsie Mae proud, and oh she had a happy heart. Elsie Mae’s smile was contagious, and her loving caring ways were felt by all who knew her. She was a devout Catholic and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and choir in Tontitown, Arkansas. Elsie Mae was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years Gabriel Pianalto, her granddaughter Rachel Pianalto, her parents Pete and Mary, sisters Clara, Dorothy, and Virginia; and brothers Bill, Charlie, and Virgil. Elsie Mae is survived by three daughters, Brenda of Springdale, Doris Holmes and husband Gary of Springdale, Silvia Hall and husband Jason of Tontitown, four sons, Virgil Pianalto and wife Gail of Tontitown, Patrick Pianalto of Springdale, Bernard Pianalto and wife Sherry of Tontitown, and James Pianalto and wife Kristi of Fayetteville. Elsie Mae’s heart was filled with love, and oh how proud she was of her most precious grandchildren: Michael, Paula, Jon, Jessica, Justin, Jacob, Gavan, and Maddi, and her six great-grandchildren; Noah, Hannah, Lilly, Cooper, Aiden, and Priscilla. Elsie Mae had many extended family members and friends she loved so much. A conversation Paula (Elsie Mae’s grandaughter) had with her daughter Lilly about death and life in Heaven with God, Lilly describes life’s precious moments by simply responding, “That’s ok Mommy, Great Nona is not here with us, now she is everywhere.” Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, March 19, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tontitown with Fr. William Burmester officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Tontitown. Rosary services will be Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 6:30pm at St. Joseph Church. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bell Tower Memorial, P.O. Box 39, Tontitown, AR 72770 and Arkansas Children's Northwest, 2601 Gene George Blvd, Springdale, AR 72762. Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com

Elsie Mae Pianalto

October 16, 1931 - March 15, 2018