Ersilia (Stavolone) Morton, 80

February 24, 2021

Ersilia (Stavolone) “Elsa” Morton, 80, of Mountville, passed away peacefully at Paramount Senior Living on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Born in Naples, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Consiglia Stavolone-Caruso and Lorenzo Stavolone. She was the loving wife to the late Niles Rhoderick Morton, Sr. with whom she shared 58 years of marriage.

Ersilia and Niles were a love affair from the start. They had met while Niles was serving in the US Marine Corp while stationed in Naples, Italy. As the story was shared often with their children, Niles became quite attracted to Elsa immediately and the two were married within weeks of their meeting. Elsa spoke only Italian and Niles spoke English and broken Italian at best. Their wedding pictures were simply stunning and reviewed and cherished by her children to this day.

One of Elsa’s proudest moments was when she became a US Citizen as a surprise for Niles while he was away serving in Vietnam. Elsa with 3 children under the age of 5 in tow, was sworn in as a US Citizen. Elsa learned to speak English, raise a family, work, and attend classes to reach her goal of becoming a US Citizen within the first 5 years of moving to the US, mainly while her husband was away serving her new country.
Ersilia was never satisfied with just getting through the day. She worked very hard and instilled that work ethic within her three children. She nor Niles had ever sought any post High School degree, but were very big believers in education. They worked very hard to insure all three children attended and graduated with college degrees. Ersilia had a wonderful sense of humor and even if she didn’t get the joke, she would make you feel like you just told the most amazing one. She had that knack that made everyone feel the same love for her that she felt for you.

Elsa was quite the entrepreneur as well. She started and ran a number of very successful businesses in her lifetime, learning more every step of the way. She was quite artistic and expressed this love in her ceramic and pottery business for many years. When she was readying to retire from this business, she decided that she wanted to pursue a new artistic endeavor and chose to go into pet grooming. Her many years and love of her family pets led her to what she would tell you was her true calling. Ersilia was loved by all her clients and yet she was loved even more by their pets.

Ersilia was trilingual Italian, French, and English and enjoyed traveling to Europe, Disney World and many vineyards with Niles Sr. As per her adventurous nature, Elsa earned her black belt in karate at the age of 60, enjoyed skiing in her earlier years and spending time outdoors and the travel associated with her interests. Elsa and Niles enjoyed sailing throughout the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waters for years. Their love of the water saw them move to the Outer Banks when she finally retired. She enjoyed many wonderful years there with Niles and their Chihuahuas, Latte and Chi, and their cat Sabri. Ersilia lover her family dearly and would do whatever she could for them. All of her grandchildren would affectionately call her Nonna and she was so pleased by that.

Ersilia is survived by her son, James Tilgham Morton, III, companion of Stacie Bardell of Mountville, daughter Diane Catherine (Morton) Boff companion of David Ludwig of Denver, PA and son Niles Rhoderick “JR” Morton, Jr., husband of Gretchen Morton of Ellicott City, MD; 7 grandchildren: Alyssa Shissler, Marina Boff, Tyler Morton, Katherine Ann Marie Morton, Nicholas Morton, Jack Morton and Julia Morton; and great grandson Emmitt Shissler. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Tony, Sara, Juana and Anna.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the York County SPCA, 3159 N Susquehanna Trail, York, PA 17406.

Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.