Submitted by: Dan Rich

Elvira Gelorma Parisi

March 1, 1921 - Feb. 27, 2004

South Bend Tribune 2/29/2004

Elvira Gelorma "Mamma" Parisi, 82, of Hill Street, South Bend, Ind., passed away following a long illness at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, in her residence.

Mrs. Parisi was born on March 1, 1921, in Locri, Province of Riggio Calabria, Italy, to the late Francesco and Maria Caterina (Cusato) Verteramo. She came to South Bend on April 18, 1964, from Italy. On Feb. 9, 1939, in Locri, she married Gelormo Parisi, who passed away March 1, 1989. "Mamma," as everyone knew her, was the founder of Parisi's Restaurant in South Bend.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph Catholic Church, on the corner of Hill Street and LaSalle Street, where she was a longtime parishioner, with Rev. Brent Kruger, CSC, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call today from 4 to 7 p.m., and Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. in the McGann Funeral Homes, University Area Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Road near Ironwood, where the parish will pray the Rosary at 7 p.m. Monday.

Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 941 E. 86th St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Survivors include a daughter, Maria (Cosimo) Bumbaca of Granger, Ind., and their children, Leonardo Bumbaca and Filippo S. Bumbaca, and a great-granddaughter, Isabella B. Bumbaca. Four sons also survive, Dominic (Juanita) Parisi of South Bend, and their children, Cesare N. Parisi, Marilyn J. Parisi Bumbaca and Dominic A. Parisi Jr., and great-grandchildren, Angela D. Bumbaca, Christina M. Bumbaca, Vincent L. Bumbaca and Gabriella Bumbaca; Francesco (Lina) Parisi of Granger, and their children, Lucia Tobia, Salvatore Parisi and Maria R. Miller, and great-grandchildren, Lina V. Tobia and Bailey E. Parisi; Luciano (Rose) Parisi of Granger, and their children, Lisa M. Parisi, David A. Parisi and Matteo R. Parisi; Roberto A. Parisi of Granger, and his children, Antonio R. Parisi, Derek N. Parisi and Travis M. Parisi. A sister, Ernsta Verteramo, lives in Italy.

Her love and joy of life was to cook for her family and friends.