Elsie Marie Branch, age 93, of Shelby, died Thursday, January 9, 2025 after a period of declining health.
Elsie was born December 18, 1931 in Rochester, New Hampshire, to the late Charles and Catherine (Hickey) Dame. A 1950 graduate of Spaulding High School, Elsie attended Sacred Heart Hospital Nursing School in Manchester, New Hampshire. After graduation she began her career as a registered nurse at Rochester Hospital before enlisting in the Navy. It was during her time in the Navy that she met “the love of her life”, Donald Branch, when they both were assigned to the neurosurgical unit at the naval hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. Although they had to keep their love secret for a year due to Elsie being an officer and Don being a naval corpsman, they were engaged on February 7 and married six months later on August 3, 1957. Together Elsie and Don raised four children: David, Kathy, Katie, and Mary.
Upon their return to Ohio, Elsie worked at the hospital in Springfield and then as a neonatal nurse in Columbus at The Ohio State University Hospital. The couple finally settled their family in Shelby in the early 1970s. When all of the children were school age, Elsie took a job with Shelby City Schools working as the lunch cashier and helping in the kitchen at the middle school. Soon she was hired as the school nurse at Auburn Elementary School where she worked until her retirement in 1992. After retirement Elsie became involved with Shelby Home and Public Health and also served as a volunteer in many ways throughout the community.
As a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Elsie was involved in the Altar and Rosary Society and participated in many church events. She lived an active life and, together with her late husband, Don, she enjoyed taking casino bus trips and traveling, especially to New England, the Smoky Mountains, and Alaska. Elsie valued her faith, family, and friends and took great pride in her grandsons, Luke and Sam Wareham. She was always up for an adventure with her many friends and looked forward to any opportunity to make memories with them. Elsie never lost her New England accent or her Yankee stubbornness, and she rarely met a stranger. She lived a life of service and was willing to help others in any way that she could.
Surviving are Elsie’s four children: David Branch, Kathy (David) Wareham, Katie Branch, and Mary (Charlie) Myrick; two grandsons: Luke Wareham (Amanda Check) and Sam (Melissa) Wareham; brother-in-law: Barry Albert; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Don, Elsie was preceded in death by her brother: Harold Dame; and sister, Andrea (Dame) Albert.
Family and friends are welcome on Monday, January 13, 2025 from 9:30-11 am at the Penwell Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, where the rosary will be recited at 10:45 am. Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow the visitation at 11:30 am at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 29 West Street, Shelby. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
Condolences may be made on the funeral home’s website (PenwellFuneralHome.com) or their Facebook page (Facebook.com/PenwellFuneralHome).
To the Branch Family,
I worked at Shelby Middle School as an art teacher alongside Elsie who worked joyously in the kitchen as a cook. She had such a bright vibrant smile on her face and I looked forward to seeing her each day. She was a well liked “lunch lady”by the entire Shelby Middle School staff and students. My condolence to the entire Branch family she will be sadly missed by the entire community. Sincerely, Ann Coward
Prayers and hugs for all. Elsie was one of mom’s closest friends. Take comfort in her peace….