Elena Maria Gastaldo Littleton

Elena Maria Gastaldo Littleton, age 86, of Dover, passed Thursday, March 10, 2022, in her home, following a long illness.

Born January 27, 1936, in Rome, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Florindo and Anna DeSilvi Gastaldo. When she was a young lady, Elena moved with her family to the United States, and later, in 1989, obtained her U.S. citizenship, of which she was very proud. She married Vernon A. Littleton on October 8, 1988; the couple shared 12 years of marriage prior to Vernon’s passing on November 7, 2010.

She was a faithful member of St. Joseph Church, Dover, and she gave freely of her time and talent as a volunteer at both the church and school. She also served as a volunteer for Community Hospice for over 20 years. Additionally, she was a member of the American-Italian Club. Elena stayed busy.

She made several trips back to Rome over the years to visit family and friends. She enjoyed baking, especially cookies and bread, crocheting and was a talented seamstress and loving homemaker. She loved playing cards, and one of her most favorite pastimes was playing bingo at the New Philadelphia Elks Lodge with her good friend, Florence Ball. Elena made friends wherever she went. Elena also dearly loved her dogs, especially her most recent companion, Tasha.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Robert Moss of Mineral City, and her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Kelly Sullivan of Birmingham, Alabama; her grandchildren, Rebekah and Rachael Moss, Mitchell, Clayton and Riley Sullivan; her great-grandchildren, Joseph and Jarrite Moss; and her nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, and her husband, Vernon, Elena was preceded in death by her brothers, Franco and Roberto Gastaldo.

Honoring Elena’s wishes, there will be no visitation. A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., in St. Joseph Church; Fr. Tomas A. Carvajal-Basto will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory Elena please visit the Obituaries link on the Toland-Herzig website.

The family wishes to acknowledge everyone at Community Hospice, and Tina and Sonja in particular, for their extraordinary care - Thank You So Very Much! Donations in Elena’s memory are suggested to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.