Elsa Victoria Cook
Elsa “MorMor” Victoria Erlandson Linville Cook, beloved and devoted mother, grandmother, wife, sister, daughter, cousin, aunt, and friend to many – passed away peacefully on November 4, 2022, at the age of 77.
Elsa was preceded in death by her beautiful daughter, Andrea Mackie, beloved husband, Roger Cook and her treasured brothers, Lee and Jay Erlandson.
Elsa was born on March 22, 1945, to Ralph and Karin (Berg) Erlandson, in Boston, MA. She attended Dorchester High School from 1959-1962. Elsa received her Secretarial Diploma from The Boston School of Business Education in 1963. Over the years between raising a village of children, providing a safe, warm haven for friends in need, volunteering for public television fundraising and running a police equipment store, she found her vocational calling from 1987- 1998 as an Executive Secretary at Price Waterhouse Coopers. Elsa was a lifetime member of the Independent Order of Vikings.
Elsa is survived by her daughters Nicole Linville, North Weymouth, MA, and Linda Drew and her husband Frank, Marshfield, MA, and her sisters Kaarin O’Brien, Lantana, FL and Linnea Erlandson-Smith, Wareham, MA. MorMor adored her grandchildren: John and Michael Mackie, Boston, MA, Emma Curley and Nolan Drew, Marshfield, MA, plus a grandcat Tootsie and too many surrogate children and grandchildren to name, as well as many extra special cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, coworkers, and neighbors in America and Sweden.
Elsa was extremely proud of being the oldest of five children OFD, Originally From Dorchester’s Codman Square and reveled at her wonderful childhood with her cousins in Roslindale and Medford. Her first adventure to Kansas blessed her with lifelong friends. When she returned to Boston, Elsa met the love of her life, Roger Cook, who cherished the ground she walked on. In the late 90’s they moved into their dream home; custom built by Roger in Surry, ME, where additional long-lasting friendships were forged. Health issues brought Elsa and Roger back to Massachusetts to be closer to family and friends. Elsa’s final years were spent in North Weymouth being cared for by her adoring daughters after the sudden, heartbreaking losses of Roger in 2015 and Andrea in June of this year.
Elsa’s mothering, cooking and hostessing skills were legendary. She always had an open heart and home for those that had nowhere to go, to stay, to sleep or eat. Elsa was authentically and wholeheartedly there for those in her life. An avid “Collector” of people, pets, plants, stories, letters, photos, food, recipes, furniture, tchotchkes, jewelry, clothes, shoes, office supplies, kitchen gadgets, home and restaurant goods, bags, empty containers, ancestral ashes and far too much more “stuff” to name.
MorMor will be missed immensely by family, friends and neighbors throughout the world. Her legacy of endless compassion, warmth, joy, humor, generosity, and unconditional love cannot be measured or replaced. As much as she loved flowers, Elsa requested no arrangements, instead please follow her lead, and give to others, animal shelters, your favorite charity or research organization or:
The Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at: https://steppingstrong.bwh.harvard.edu/
In lieu of a funeral or traditional memorial service, Elsa preferred we have a “big shindig” full of love, hugging, laughter, music, dancing, pictures, jokes and too much food, which will take place at a future date. We will keep you posted. Please bring your favorite Elsa Stories to share.
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Such a beautiful tribute to a very special human being. Her generosity, compassion, care and empathy for others is such an amazing legacy. Although sad to know of her health challenges of recent, I know she was welcomed and celebrated by Roger, and the many family that went before her. Rest In Peace beautiful Elsa 💕💕
Elsa KAKES, our time was short since we met, However it was filled with joy& laughs& stories. I enjoyed spending time with You& making Your lunch& listening to Your life stories❤️. Meeting Niki has been a complete joy& the added bonus to meet You has filled me with more Love for You Both💞. When I met Andrea she was kind and so funny. I wont forget that. May You Fly with the Angels along with Andrea& Roj& watch over Your kind caring beautiful loving Daughter Nicole &Toots Forever& A Day🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
I Will always think of You everytime I make My Matzo Ball Soup🌸 Grateful for the friendship I have with Nicole❤️👭🌸
I will always remember her huge heart for all she came in contact with. She was a loyal friend to me. We spent many times together, having coffee, lunch at her home in Surry, and many times out shopping together. Her taste in clothes, jewelry, and shoes, we shared alike. Her home was always open. She was an amazing host and cook. Her smile was contagious and her hugs were genuine. Sending my deepest thoughts and prayers to Nikki and family. She leaves a legacy to all who knew her and one day I will see her again.
Such a beautiful woman with so much love to give. Beautifully written Niki. Hugs.
My auntie El,, I’ll miss you dearly. At a young age i remember going to ELSA and when she spoke to me she always said ,,,” yes darlin,, what can i do for you ?” She gave me undivided attention, touching my cheek as she spoke ever so gently. I’ll never forget what she taught me. To this day is important for me to look at my family when spoken to..a sign off respect. Thank you Auntie El for giving me those life skills. I’ll love you always…. you too Nik !❤️❤️😇
El. My cousin, my friend, my buddy, my partner in crime, always there for me for 77 years. Countless laughs and many tears.
Thousands of miles on the road, Just last summer I called her to trouble shoot my car, “it’s gasping, bucking, no engine light,
…’ She said, “Combustion problem…” She was right. Overheating due to total loss of antifreeze. Broken line. Anything that
could go wrong with a car, went wrong with the junkers we used to drive. We saw it all. And we laughed at it all. We raised
our kids together. Single Mums, short money, but endless fun. Sledding, swimming, exploring, board games, we were all kids
together for so many fun years. Tusand Talk Pancho. Meet me when I get there OK? xo. Miss you.
What a woman she was! We were so honored to have been brought into her family and enjoy her love and kindness. She was one of a kind and has left a large whole in our hearts.
You will be missed my dear by so many friends and family. I joined your rank of friends via Karin Stout and we had so many fun Karin Stout brought us together Elsa. The three of us were Swedes and loved sharing our family stories. My Greg only a year younger than Andrea and my Jennie who was a bit younger than Niki was also another reason we clicked. Remember the time we spent working at the Infant Development Center on Rainbow Boulevard. We took a very ugly office building and made it into a wonderland for the little children who were born with birth defects Meeting and getting to become close to your parents is another wonderful memory. They were my kind of people. You are now with them and you will no longer be in pain. I know that God has a plan for each and every one of us. All of our many camping adventures at Lake Perry is imprinted in my memory and will never be forgotten. I can still see you throwing pots and pans and crystal into the the back of your Van because a storm was coming at Lake Perry and you hollering at Ronnie to put on some clothes because he and a number of the kids were sleeping in what became a flooded tent. I don’t remember 1 trip that it did not storm when we camped at Perry I will never forget you!!! Dee
had flowed the tent were Ron and several of the kids were sleeping Then there was all the good food we shared together the night you, Jim, Ronnie and myself made Swedish sausage. I have a special section in my family cook book entitled Family favorites 1st one Elsa’s Swedish Meatballs, Chinese Rice, Quiche Lorraine, Marinated Tomatoes and the list goes on. You loved to cook and all of us loved to share in your hospitality and the excellent food you served!!! There will never be another human like you Elsa!!!All my love dearie