Elisa Pavia

Elisa M. Pavia (Prizio), age 87, passed away on January 1, 2026. She was born in Stamford on February 15, 1938, to the late John Prizio and Elisa (Conforti) Prizio. She spent most of her life calling Stamford home, moving to New Canaan in 2004.

Elisa graduated from Stamford High School (class of 1956). She returned to school in her forties and graduated from Norwalk Community College and was initiated into the National Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa.

Always hard working and ambitious Elisa worked a good part of her life, from office assistant in her first years of marriage, running an in-home nursery school when her children were small, a lucrative real estate business, a personnel agency for home aids, and finally managing a cleaning service. She was also a guiding force in her husband's real estate development company over several decades.

While working was important to her it was not her identity. Her family always came first, whether cooking, offering advice, or just being together. She enjoyed traveling, whether on a cruise, tour, or just relaxing, she visited multiple countries on four continents.

Her eye for beauty in people, music, and art led her to become an artist. Singing was her first passion, leading her to sing on live radio in Stamford in her teens. She painted for over 50 years leaving her family with an extensive collection of cherished paintings.

Elisa will forever be remembered with love by her family and friends. She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years Anthony M. Pavia, Jr., her daughters Lisa Sawyer (Sean) of New Canaan, CT, and Laurie Shiff (Jonathan) of New Canaan, CT; five grandchildren, Elisabeth Sawyer, Katherine Sawyer, Charlotte Sawyer, Emily Shiff, and Spencer Shiff. She was predeceased by her much-loved son Anthony M. Pavia, III in 2020.

The family will receive family and friends at Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Ave., Stamford, CT on Tuesday, January 6 from 4:00 pm -7:00pm. A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, January 7 at 10:30, at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Ave., Stamford, CT.

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