Elvira Castleberry

Haysville – Castleberry, Elvira “Picci”, 88, passed away on February 8, 2013. Visitation 1-8pm Tuesday, February 12th, with family present 6-8pm; funeral service 2pm Wednesday, February 13th, both at Smith Mortuary, 7031 S. Broadway, Haysville. Picci was born in Casteliier di Visinada, Italy and resided in Trieste until she was 14. Her adventurous spirit led her to Rome where she joined the Lasagna Circus and became a famous trapeze artist throughout Italy for ten years. In 1947 she met Bill Castleberry, Master Sergeant in the U.S. army and left the circus, never looking back. They married and had two daughters in Italy, then moved to America, settled in Wichita and had two sons. She spent the remainder of her life devoted to her family. She enjoyed cooking Italian delicacies and there was always room at the table for one more who might come in unannounced at dinner time. Camping and fishing were her favorite pastimes and the family spent many summers at Fall River having many fish fries and joyous events. Above all she loved her Italian heritage and would sing Italian songs at the drop of a hat. She will be dearly missed. Preceded in death by her husband, Bill Castleberry. Survivors: children, Jackie Sanders, Rita (Jim Elgin) Zaudke, Gerald (Kathy) Castleberry, David Castleberry; grandchildren, Amanda, Chelsea, Shannon (Kent), Joshua (Fabian), Jeremiah (Brandy), Sean (Jana), Jennifer (Lorenzo); great-grandchildren, Soren and Joshua; siblings, Aquilino Mechis, of France and Dolores Crismani, of Italy. Memorial donations may be made to the Lord’s Diner.