Elsie Sousa (Thistle) Macari

Elsie Elizabeth (Thistle) Sousa Macari, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend left this world, but not our hearts, on April 19, 2023 in Waltham, MA at 90 years old. Elsie was mom, mother, ma; she was Gram and Grammy.

Elsie was born to Violet and John Thistle on January 5, 1933, spending her childhood years frolicking along the seaside in Winthrop. She was born into an abundance of love from her older siblings, James and Alice, to be followed later by baby sister, Joan. At the age of 19 she was swept off her feet by a young sailor, Donald Sousa, whom she married and with whom she had three children: Donna J. (Sousa) Holm, Carolyn J. (Sousa) Amador, and Steven M. Sousa. 

Elsie raised her family in the Allston neighborhood of Boston and there they stayed for three generations. Elsie was a familiar face in the community, working for many years at the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center and attending Hill Memorial Baptist Church every week with at least a couple of grandchildren by her side at all times. Elsie sat in church and held your hand while gently and comfortingly rubbing it with her thumb, the very same way she massaged the handle of her teacup. Elsie never went a day without her tea. She was a master of silly songs and honest responses, an animal lover and avid reader, always providing an ear to listen and a laugh that could reach a pitch only dogs could hear. She never forgot a birthday and her heart somehow grew with each new grandchild she gained.

Elsie is survived by her daughter, Donna, her son, Steven and his wife Ilse, her 8 grandchildren (Melissa, Angela, Amanda, Rachel, Fred, Jessica, Maria and Steven) and 9 great-grandchildren (Jacqueline, Autumn, Anthony, Ryan, Leo, Violet, Jonas, Rivers and Rory). Her legacy lives on through her love that ran deeply enough to sustain her family for generations to come.

Her life will be honored and celebrated with visiting hours at Kfoury Keefe Funeral Home, 8 Spring Street (at the corner of Centre St.) West Roxbury from 4-7 pm on Tuesday, April 25th. Funeral services will be held the following morning at 11 a.m. at the Funeral Home. Interment will conclude services at St. Joseph Cemetery near her beloved daughter Carolyn.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elsie Sousa (Thistle) Macari, please visit our floral store.