Elsa Morissette Obituary

Elsa Semeraro Morissette, 91, passed away peacefully at the end of April 2025 in Portland, Oregon. Elsa lived a life of love, beauty, and connection. Enigmatic and engaging, she had a rare gift for making everyone feel seen and welcomed. Admired by all who had the good fortune to meet her, she loved beauty and created it wherever she went - through her words, her presence, or the spaces she touched. Her warmth, entertaining nature and charm drew people in effortlessly, making them feel instantly comfortable and valued. She was unforgettable.

Elsa was born in Williamsville, Vermont to Helen "Sally" (Perkins) and William Semeraro. She grew up in the Fort Dummer area of Brattleboro, Vermont and attended Brattleboro High School, class of 1951. She went on to Boston University, Keene State College and she also studied acting with Arthur Lithgow.

Elsa Semeraro and Paul Morissette met while in high school. She was a cheerleader for Brattleboro High School and he was a member of the Keene, NH, High School football team. Elsa and Paul were married and after living in Connecticut and North Carolina, they moved back to Brattleboro and started the Country Kitchen Restaurant in 1959. It became a very popular place for tourists as well as local residents. Elsa's creativity was evident in the decor and ambience of the restaurant. Hiring local artists, sculptors and weavers, she was responsible for the special artistic atmosphere inside and outside the building. At times, there were dinner theater and musical events and many famous people frequented the restaurant over the years. Two of Elsa's favorites were Ted Kennedy and Paul Newman. When Bernie Sanders was new to Vermont, he came to visit Brattleboro - Elsa was his local guide and chauffeur. Elsa became committed to and was very involved with the Democratic Party. She was an activist and supported many causes including women's rights. Elsa and Paul were divorced and the restaurant was sold in the 1980s.

Elsa had a flair for drama and style. She was always creating and acting. She would read stories to her children and grandchildren while acting out all of the characters. She performed in many Brattleboro area and New Hampshire theatrical productions from the 1960s through the 1980s. She also loved fashion, and worked in the fashion industry in California. Elsa became the district manager for an upscale clothing company in the San Francisco area. Her hobby was collecting antique paper dolls and the clothing/fashion for them.

Although she was a true Vermonter, Elsa spent many years with her sister and best friend, Marlene Juscen in Burlingame, California, and she spent several years in Portland, Oregon with her daughter, Tara.

Elsa is survived by her three devoted daughters: Roxanne, Mikell, and Tara Morissette; Tara's husband, Bryan Archibald; son-in-law John (Gianni) Hohl; three beloved grandsons, Max W. Morissette, Nathan J., and Calvin E. Archibald. Her daughter Wendy (Phil Chadwick) died in 2023.

Elsa is also survived by several beloved nieces and nephews: Megan, Holly, Mary Margaret, Ann Marie, Bobby and Barry, as well as her "adopted daughter" Sandy.

The family thanks the staff at Robison in Portland, Oregon for their kind and attentive end-of-life care. A celebration of life will be held for Elsa in Vermont at a later date.