Elissa Ann Rys, 91

DOVER - Elissa Ann Rys of Dover died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, in Capitol Health Care Services, Dover. She was 91.

Born in Mays Landing, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Elizabeth (Sindoni) Milano.

Raised in Pleasantville, N.J., she later moved to Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Mrs. Rys worked as a clerk for Multigraph Addresso Graph of New York and later owned and operated, with her husband, Copy Cats Inc., which was a photography finishing service.

She resided in Ramsey, N.J., until moving to Dover in 1977.

Mrs. Rys had been a longtime active member of Holy Cross Church, Dover, where she attended daily Mass at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

She was member of the Good Samaritans and Holy Cross Senior Crusaders.

Mrs. Rys often visited with the patients at the local nursing facilities and was a volunteer throughout the years at Westminster Nursing Facility.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Rys, in 2003; five sisters, Mary Erhart, Margaret Bertagni, Josephine Gitto, Lena Totoro and Louise Gallo; and two brothers, Anthony May and Frank May.

She is survived by one son, Richard M. Nowatski of Ventura, Calif.; one granddaughter, Joanne Nowatski of Prince Frederick, Md.; her half-brother and half-sister, Byron May of California and Portia May of Kansas; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Friday in Holy Cross Church, South State Street, Dover.

Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.

Contributions may be made to Holy Cross Church, 631 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901; or to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 100 Commerce St., Suite 302, Newark, DE 19713.

Arrangements by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director Inc., Dover.