Elsie Clare Kapanowski

Elsie Clare Kapanowski, of Royal Oak, passed away on May 26, 2025. Born in Stepney, England, on March 1, 1938 Elsie lived a long colorful life of 87 years. Her unique authenticity left a strong and unforgettable impression on everyone she met. Born and raised in East End London to a large family during World War II she quickly learned the important things in life. At the age of 21, Elsie married her childhood sweetheart, Len Fisher. His work in the Royal Air Force led them to live in Myhl Village in Germany for the first year of marriage. The pair eventually parted ways. After working with the U.S. Air Force at RAF Alconbury, she moved to the United States as a nanny, continuing a lifelong journey of nurturing and helping others. In Michigan, she met and married, William Stanley Kapanowski. As a homemaker, Elsie poured her heart into raising their daughter and being active in organizations such as the PTA and Brownies. She remained dedicated to the care of children while her daughter was young, working in childcare and sharing her gentle spirit with countless families. Elsie's love for people and her desire to help them extended beyond her home and childcare. After her second divorce she worked countless jobs, sometimes several at once in order to provide for her child. She was a server and hostess in the restaurant industry for many years in the local area, always quick with a smile and kind word for every customer. Elsie worked at Jim Fresard Pontiac Buick Oldsmobile in Royal Oak as a Leasing Liason and later as a Customer Care Representative and made strong friendships along the way. Her last position was as a physical therapist aide at Providence Hospital in Southfield, bringing comfort and encouragement to patients, especially the elderly. Elsie always stepped up and spoke out on behalf of people and animals, she was a true champion for the underdog. Active in her community, she was known for her generous heart-she wouldn't hesitate to offer a ride, a meal, the last bit of cash in her wallet or the coat off her back to those in need. A passionate friend to animals, Elsie never missed a chance to help or just give a cuddle to any creature in need. She could often be seen taking her family's dogs on long, leisurely walks with the cats following along behind. She had a great fondness for books often devouring them cover to cover in one sitting. She always had one with her, not wasting a chance to read any amount she could while waiting in a lobby or having a quick bite to eat. Watching movies, especially sci-fi, horror films and animal documentaries, was a past time she enjoyed immensely. She would spend entire weekends lost in a good story or working on a word search puzzle. Above all, Elsie was a social soul-friendly, outgoing, and endlessly kind. She never met a stranger, her comforting and generous nature often made people so at ease they sometimes shared their life story upon meeting her. Elsie passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones. She will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Elsie will be remembered as the loving mother of Elisa (Tracy Surgener) Kapanowski. Dear sister of Joan (the late David) Walker and the late Lillian (Thomas) Twiddy, Rosemary (Fred) Saunders, and Vera (Brian) Chamberlain. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews in England. Visitation for Elsie will be held on Saturday, May 31 from 3 - 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 1 from 12 p.m. until time of service, 2:00 p.m., at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, 705 W. Eleven Mile Rd. (four blocks east of Woodward), Royal Oak. Memorial contributions in honor of Elsie can be directed to any of these no kill organizations that give life saving help to animals: Animal Welfare Society in Madison Heights www.animalwelfaresociety.net Michigan Animal Rescue League in Pontiac www.marl.org New Beginnings Cat Rescue in Royal Oak www.Nbarmichigan.org The Barn Sanctuary in Chelsea www.barnsanctuary.org Detroit Dog Rescue https://g.co/kgs/jNhXHan Detroit Alley Cats https://detroitalleycats.org/ A Rejoyceful Rescue https://www.rejoycefulrescue.com/ Make a Difference Rescue https://makeadifferencerescue.com/ Rebel Dogs Detroit https://rebeldogsdetroit.com/ Almost Home Animal Rescue https://almosthomeanimals.org/ Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) https://dawghous.com/ World Wildlife Fund https://www.worldwildlife.org

Elsie Clare Kapanowski

March 1, 1938 - May 26, 2025