Elsie Rawson Fessler

Elsie Rawson Fessler died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, April 20, 2024. She was 94 years old. Elsie was a generous, compassionate, fun-loving woman who listened actively to anyone who needed an ear and made all around her feel at ease and special. She also was a staunch advocate for civil and human rights and strove to make the world a better place.

Born on February 6, 1930, in Cass City, Michigan, Elsie was the daughter of W. Audley Rawson, a farmer and two-term Michigan state Senator as well as a four-term member of the state House of Representatives, and Lena Mary Day Rawson, a homemaker and partner in running the farm. Elsie was the valedictorian of the Class of 1948 at Cass City High School as well as president of the National Honor Society, editor of the yearbook and school newspaper, and a member of the Student Council.

She earned her bachelor's degree in Home Economics with a minor in Science and Speech from Central Michigan University, graduating magna cum laude in 1952. Elsie was president of the Sigma Phi Omicron sorority and a member of both the Phi Kappa Delta forensics honor society and Kappa Delta Pi honor society for education.

On June 13, 1953, Elsie married James A. Fessler, Jr., in Cass City, Michigan. At the time, she was in the midst of earning her master's degree in education and guidance and counseling at the University of Michigan, which she completed in 1954. Her first teaching job was in the Sebewaing public schools in Michigan. She also taught in the Airport Community Schools in Carleton and the Wayne Community Schools, both in Michigan.

In 1960, Elsie gave birth to Audrey Ann Fessler, of Boone, North Carolina, and in 1962 to Robbert James Fessler, of Rhinebeck, New York. The family moved to Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, in 1968 after Jim accepted a new job. Elsie soon found herself teaching home economics in the Fox Chapel public school system for three years.

In 1972, the Fessler family moved to Connecticut, where Jim had accepted another new position and Elsie was hired to teach home economics at Trumbull High School. She enjoyed a 20-year career there and served as the faculty advisor of the National Honor Society.

Upon retiring from nearly 30 years of teaching in 1992, Elsie and Jim moved to Naples, Florida. After Jim died of cancer in 1994, Elsie found renewed purpose in international travel, gardening, making new friends, and doing service for others.

A spiritual and compassionate woman, Elsie was a member of the First Congregational Church in Wayne, Michigan; the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania; the Nichols United Methodist Church in Trumbull, Connecticut; and Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church in Naples, Florida. Drawing on her counseling background, she proudly served as a Stephen Minister for nearly a dozen years, providing one-to-one care to people in the congregation and community experiencing difficulties in life.

In 2014, Elsie funded the construction of a school in Xepatan, Guatemala, built by the organization Miracles in Action. She was overwhelmed by the love of the Guatemalan community when she and her family traveled there for the school's inauguration. It was one of her proudest accomplishments.

In 2018 and at the age of 88, Elsie moved less than two miles from her home to the Carlisle, an independent senior living community in Naples. Elsie made deep and sustaining friendships with the other residents of the Carlisle, where she was known for writing notes of love and encouragement, the colorful bows on her walker that she made to celebrate whatever seasonal holiday was at hand, and festive wreaths on her door. She participated in book clubs, investment clubs, card games, and movie nights. Elsie also loved raising orchids on her balcony overlooking a lake. She was frequently seen exercising in the Carlisle's magnificent pool.

Always eager to learn new technology, Elsie proudly was one of the first owners of a microwave oven, a home computer, and an Apple watch. She was a master of texting with emojis. At the Carlisle, she could often be heard asking Siri for answers to whatever questions she or the other residents might entertain.

She is predeceased by her father Audley Rawson; her mother Lena Day Rawson; her husband Jim Fessler; her sister Marie Rawson; her brothers Ralph, Clare, and Delbert Rawson and their wives, respectively, Julie "Mimi" Allen Rawson, Catherine Loomis Rawson, and Doris Park Rawson; and nephews William Allen "Bill" Rawson, Richard Rawson, and Gary Pabst. She is survived by her daughter Dr. Audrey Fessler and her husband Dr. Jefford Vahlbusch; her son Robbert Fessler and his husband Dr. Michael Sadowski; nephew Jim Rawson; niece Julie Schmidt and her husband Terry Schmidt; niece Francie Dorman; nephew Tom Rawson and his wife Xiaoling Rawson; niece Nancy Rawson; "in town" daughter and son-in-law Deb and Rick Logan; and her numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that individuals who wish to memorialize Elsie make a donation to the Rawson Memorial Library in Cass City, Michigan (rawsonlibrary.org), or Miracles in Action in Naples, Florida (miraclesinaction.org).