Elizabeth Josephine (Marcellitti) Druss was born in Elmwood Park to immigrant parents, Mary Rita (D’Elia) and Pasquale Salvatore Marcellitti. She grew up in Chicago’s Galewood neighborhood with her sister, Rose Josephine Castelli, who passed away in 2001.
Liz treasured her years at Steinmetz High School, where she formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. It was there she first met the love of her life, Lenny Druss. Early in her career, she worked at Beckman. When she wasn’t working, she and her sister were surrounded by family: Ma and Daddy, Uncle, Aunt Jo, cousin Eugene, and her Godparents, Pasquale and Connie DeRosa.
Family connections only deepened as the years went on. Her nephew, Vito Castelli, married Donna Macchionne, extending Liz’s family to the Macchionnes, and her niece, Angela Castell, welcomed a daughter, Lainie.
Liz and Lenny reunited in 1966 and welcomed their daughter, Lissa Elizabeth, in 1968. These were the years she cherished most, raising Lissa, hosting Italian family dinners, spending time with family, and fully embracing life as the wife of a professional musician. Whether it was a theater, a jazz club, or any stage Lenny played, Liz was there.
She later resumed her professional path as an executive assistant at MetPath (now Quest Diagnostics). After retirement, her true joy was taking annual trips with her daughter to Italy to visit her family in Rome and Civitella Roveto (Abruzzo). Up until recent years, Saturdays were reserved for lunch with her Steinmetz girlfriends, another thread of continuity she held dear.
Liz’s greatest joy came with the arrival of her granddaughter, Tessa Rose. Her devotion to Tessa defined her later years; nothing meant more to her than being a constant source of love and care in her granddaughter’s life.
She is now in heaven with her family and friends.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. You can donate by clicking the link below:
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If you would like to watch the funeral mass, here is a link for the livestream on November 19 at the church: