Elisa Flora Grose, 76, widow of Carl E. Grose, Jr., passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2019.  Born in Vicenza, Italy, she was the youngest of eight children, with four brothers and four sisters.  Lisa met her husband Carl at a dance while Carl was stationed in Italy as a member of the US Army.  They wed when she was nineteen and shortly thereafter moved with their two small children Anna and Elena to the United States, specifically to Hampton, VA.  Her son Carl was born a few years later.  She opened her own business, and was the former owner and operator of Lisa's Alteration Shop, retiring in 2012 after 31 years.

Lisa was an overcomer of every kind of obstacle that came her way.  From battling sickness throughout her life, to moving to a new country and learning a new language, to raising her children and owning her own business, she lived her life fully and with a spirit of independence.  Lisa generously gave of herself to others, and loved to take care of other people.  She especially enjoyed cooking and feeding people, or hand-making blankets as gifts. She was fond of playing Italian card games after meals, particularly with her sister Sunday.  Lisa was a gifted storyteller, who loved to regale people with historical accounts of her life as well as to impart her hard-earned wisdom.  She was never one to keep her thoughts or opinions to herself, but her motivation in sharing them was built on compassion and a desire to see people reach their fullest potential.  Laughter, faith, and the power of being together were common themes in her home.

Lisa was the matriarchal "glue" of her family, and was immensely proud of each child, grandchild, and great grandchild.  Her deepest joys in life were found in spending time with her family.  There was nothing she held back for herself if someone else in the family was in need.  She had many family members who lived in other states as well as back home in Italy, but she still managed to keep up with them as well.

Lisa was a woman of great faith in Jesus Christ, a faith which touched every aspect of her life and propelled her forward through every challenge she faced.  Her life's motto, were she to have one, would be a phrase she repeated often: "The Lord sees and the Lord provides."  Indeed, her life was a powerful witness to this truth.

Lisa was preceded in death by her parents Giacomo Mancuso and Anna Muraro Mancuso and her four brothers and three sisters:  Guitano Mancuso, Antonio Mancuso, Rafe Mancuso, Stefano Mancuso, Mimma Fugali, Tina Zotti, and Sunday Maier.  She is survived by her daughters, Anna M. Fox and Elena E. Grose; son, Carl E. Grose, III and her daughter-in-law and primary caregiver, Maria Faraci-Grose; grandchildren, Stefani Smith and husband Allen, Tommy Byrd, Casey Fox, Jessica Wisniewski, Carl E. Grose IV, and Marisa Grose; and great-grandchildren, Brentley, Ellie, and Silas.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Saturday, January 11, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 512 Buckroe Ave. in Hampton. Inurnment in Hampton National Cemetery will be at a later date.

The family wishes any memorial contributions to be made to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation, https://pkdcure.org/make-a-donation/ .

Arrangements are by Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton, 757-825-8070.