Born in the middle of the night, in the middle of the month, in the middle of the year, in the heart of Argentina on June 15, 1941, Elena's remarkable journey began. Her mother was of Spanish descent, and her father was an Argentinian entrepreneur in the fur and leather industry. After losing her mother a few months after birth, Elena and her protective older sister, Martha, were raised in a Catholic orphanage by nuns. The two sisters were all each other had, and their unbreakable bond became the foundation of a life defined by loyalty, resilience, and always looking out for one another — up until Elena's final days, Martha being the protective older sister she was born to be, still treated Elena as her little sister, to care for.

After many years in the orphanage, the sisters were adopted and became child workers in a shoe factory, where they quickly learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and determination — qualities that would define Elena and Martha for the rest of their lives. Always learning how to improve themselves, give their best effort and dedicate their lives to making a difference in the lives of others.

Happiness found a way into Elena's life when her heart was captured. The greatest love story of Elena's life began when she was just fifteen years old. While out with friends in Argentina, a young Sicilian immigrant named Mike Oddo spotted the beautiful girl in the blue dress. Playing jazz with his band that evening, he gathered enough courage to ask her to dance, even though he hardly knew how. Elena looked at him, turned to her friends, and confidently declared, “That little Italian is mine.”

During that very first dance, Mike looked into her eyes and said, “In five years I am going to marry you, and we will have a daughter with dark hair and dark eyes just like you.” He kept that promise. Together they built a marriage founded on true love, mutual respect, equal partnership, and devotion to their children. Many called Mike the angel in Elena's life. No one has ever seen a man love their wife the way Mike loved Elena. Hand in hand, they courageously left everything they knew behind to begin a new life in the United States.

Side by side, Mike and Elena became successful entrepreneurs, owning several businesses and furniture stores. The Oddo family became respected figures within their community, admired for their perseverance, integrity, generosity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Yet their greatest accomplishment was never measured in business.

Over the years, Mike and Elena sponsored more than sixty families, helping them immigrate to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream. They welcomed many into their own home, providing shelter, clothing, meals, employment, guidance, encouragement, and even teaching them the English language and American culture. Their generosity forever changed generations of families who otherwise may never have had those opportunities.

After 85 extraordinary years, Elena leaves behind a legacy of courage, generosity, laughter, elegance, and unconditional love.

She traveled the world, hosted unforgettable gatherings, many describing them as the “Great Gatsby parties of San Dimas.” She welcomed countless guests around her table and cultivated lifelong friendships with people from every walk of life. Her home was always open, her table was always full, and somehow there was always room for one more.

Those fortunate enough to share a meal with Elena still speak about her cooking today. Hundreds have said they have never experienced meals prepared with as much love, warmth, and hospitality as those served in her home.

To know Elena was to love her. Friends described her as elegant, beautiful, stylish, extremely intelligent, endlessly talented, and effortlessly funny. Her quick wit could light up any room, earning her the nickname, “The Latin Lucille Ball.” She possessed the rare ability to make everyone laugh while making every person she met feel seen, welcomed, and important.

Family was the center of Elena's universe. Her greatest pride and joy were her two children, Adriana and Alex. Determined to give them every opportunity she herself never had, Elena devoted her life to providing a childhood filled with parochial school, dance classes, horseback riding, art lessons, language studies, karate, family adventures, winters in their Lake Arrowhead cabin, ski trips, world travel, and a lifetime of unconditional love and encouragement.

In return, it was Adriana who gave Elena some of the most beautiful years of her life. She cared for her mother with constant devotion, hosted tea parties for her friends, planned memorable outings, and made Elena's comfort and happiness her highest priority. Many of Elena's closest friends often remarked how fortunate she was to have a daughter and granddaughter who loved and spoiled her. Every mother hopes to be cared for with the same tenderness Adriana showed her own.

Elena was also a devoted grandmother and, in many ways, a second mother to Adriana's children. Each grandchild inherited a beautiful part of her spirit. In the Amaral children — Ethan inherited her gift for hospitality and showing love by gathering and feeding others. Meghan inherited her unmistakable sense of humor, entrepreneurial drive, appreciation for fine culture, and generosity to make a difference in others' lives. Julianne carries Elena's practical wisdom, sense of responsibility, and love of dancing, entertaining, opening her home, and making sure everyone around her feels welcome and cared for.

In the Oddo children — Brandon shares her adventurous spirit and love of travel, becoming the first grandchild to move across the country with his wife, echoing the courageous journey Mike and Elena once made when they left Argentina together to begin a new life. The twins, April and Justin, each carry a special part of Elena's legacy. April inherited her love of beauty and style, while Justin carries forward her passion for cooking and the culinary arts.

To all six grandchildren, “Abu” was so much more than a grandmother. She was a teacher, a confidante, a storyteller, a protector, and one of the greatest blessings of their lives. Together they shared endless laughter, treasured family recipes, unforgettable holidays, and memories that will forever remain at the heart of the Oddo and Amaral families.

Later in life, Elena experienced the incredible joy of becoming a great-grandmother to London, creating a new generation of treasured memories through bicycle rides, afternoons by the pool, gardening together, baking, shopping and enjoying the precious gift of watching another generation grow.

Elena was the beloved matriarch of her family and a pillar within her community. She was admired not only for her accomplishments, but for her wisdom, generosity, resilience, and unbelievable strength. Her neighbors knew her by name. Friends sought her advice. Strangers often became lifelong friends after spending only a few moments in her presence. She possessed the extraordinary ability to leave every person she met feeling lighter with laughter than when she found them.

Although our hearts are broken, we take comfort in knowing that Elena has been joyfully reunited with the love of her life, Mike, along with the family she longed to embrace once again in Heaven.