Elsie M. Cummings

On Monday, January 29, 2018, Elsie M. (Campitella) Cummings passed away at the Lake Manassas Health and Rehabilitation Center in Gainesville, VA. Elsie was born in Saltsburg, PA on March 13, 1927, the daughter of the late Anthony and Rose (Burrell) Campitella. After graduating high school, she moved to Washington, DC where she met her husband of 64 years, Eugene “Jackie” R. Cummings and started her Secretarial career as a civil servant with the Department of the Navy, most notably during the early years of the Satellite Communications Program. Elsie was a lifelong reader, especially of American history and was an expert on the Civil War, U.S. Presidents and British history. She loved gardening. Her iris and lily beds were stunning in their variety and color and brought joy to all who were lucky enough to see them. She also loved shopping for and collecting antique glassware. From 1953 to 2004, Elsie lived in the Northern Virginia suburbs. After retirement, she lived in Titusville, FL, Weyers Cave, VA, Fredericksburg, VA, Madison, AL, and Herndon, VA. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Eugene who died on June 18, 2012 and her sisters Emily “Mim” Palmiscno and Jean Adams and her brothers Rocco, Anthony and Robert Campitella. Survivors include her four children, Gail L. Buchanan and husband Robert of Gainesville, VA, John H. Cummings III and wife Barbara of Guntersville, AL, Charles M. Cummings of Colonial Beach, VA, and Jeanne M. Cummings of Reston, VA; one brother, Donald Campitella of Eighty Four, PA and one sister, Eleanor Palmiscno of Latrobe, PA and numerous loving nieces and nephews. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Joseph Buchanan and wife Monica, Michael Cummings and wife Kim, Elizabeth Buchanan and seven great grandchildren, Jacob Buchanan and wife Amanda, Kayla Buchanan, Rachel Buchanan, Katy Cummings, Rachel Buchanan, Annabel Cummings, Tara Cummings and Hannah Buchanan. The family thanks the nursing staff at Lake Manassas Health and Rehabilitation Center for their loving and compassionate care of Elsie. Visitation is from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 5, 2018 at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, VA where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Jeff Kesner officiating. There will be a reception at the funeral home immediately following the service. Interment is at 1:00 p.m. at Culpeper National Cemetery, New Section, East Chandler Street, Culpeper, VA on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.

Elsie M. Cummings

March 13, 1927 - January 29, 2018