McAULIFFE, Elva J. (Puccinelli) 

Elva J. (Puccinelli) McAuliffe, a native of Sacramento whose independent spirit and 
love of travel took her to lands half a world away, entered eternal rest on July 4, 2009.

Elva was born Aug. 28, 1918, the daughter of Rinaldo and Erma Puccinelli, who 
emigrated from Italy. She was a graduate of Sacramento High School, and she was an 
honor student who earned a bachelor's degree in education from San Jose State 
College.

Elva was an elementary school teacher in Winters and in Sacramento before she 
married Daniel F. McAuliffe on July 18, 1942. She became a homemaker and later 
worked for the state Employment Development Department. She retired in 1984.

Elva lived in East Sacramento most of her life, including more than 55 years in River 
Park. Upon retirement, she traveled extensively and during her life saw the United 
States from coast to coast; crisscrossed Europe during more than a half dozen trips to 
the continent; went on safari in Kenya; and journeyed to the Great Wall of China.

Elva is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Elena and Michael Zellmer and her son 
and daughter-in-law Patrick and Alice McAuliffe, all of Sacramento; her son and 
daughter-in-law Sean and Joanne McAuliffe of Carmichael; her son Michael of 
Longmeadow, Mass.; her son-in-law Don Johnson of West Sacramento; her 
daughter-in-law Kristy McAuliffe and Mike Fitzgerald, both of Sacramento; eight 
grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was 
predeceased by her husband, sons Dennis and Daniel, and daughter Maria McAuliffe 
Johnson.

A memorial celebration will take place Sunday, July 19, at 1:00 p.m. at the Newman 
Center, 5900 Newman Court, Sacramento. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to 
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services or the American Cancer Society .

Published in the The Sacramento Bee on 7/10/2009