Leslee Elsea

Our mom was one light-filled spirit like none other, and she was ready to take her “cosmic vacation.” Known to many as "Miss Leslee," she brightened life for all around her. She radiated pure and boundless joy and all who knew her felt deep gratitude to be a part of her life. She embodied the powerful nature of water, and she taught others how to flow through life by her own example. She stayed afloat in rough waters with the grace of a master, she basked in gentle waters with the wonder of a child. She lived life to the fullest in every moment.

Like the ever-flowing path of water down a stream, she was always curious and never stopped learning. She worked as a Registered Medical Technologist at Columbia Hospital for Women, taught at Marymount College, and ran the allergy clinic at the Medical College of Virginia. She earned her bachelor's degree in Biology and master's degree in Gerontology and Health Administration from the Medical College of Virginia. She retired at age 72. Although her career was in western medicine, Leslee's curious mind led her to a new world of alternative medicine and holistic healing. The more she learned, she began to discover her true nature as a spiritual being.

Always with sass and good humor, Leslee was a rebel and a pioneer. She shared stories of getting in trouble with her grandparents for trying to catch and cuddle with the chickens on their farm. She loved cornbread and ate the leftovers thrown out to the pigs. She loved to run fearlessly and free in the woods. In her later years, she introduced others to new ways of thinking and helped everyone in some way with their own healing journey. She loved to study and share about higher consciousness, metaphysical healing, eastern medicine, vegetarianism, and nutrition among many other new age subjects. She learned that everything can be healed and had a wealth of knowledge how to do it. Her world expanded greatly because of her openness, curiosity, and determination to seek beyond the conventional.

Her personal passions were music and being in nature, and she was incredibly grateful to connect our family through these loves. She had the most beautiful memories of family and friends gathering to play the piano, guitar, and sing in her home. When not inside the house with music, she had a life of adventure with her kids who took her hiking, dancing, white water canoeing, and swimming with dolphins in Mexico. However, her favorite place to be was swimming in the ocean at Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She adored all of nature, trees and flowers, rivers and oceans.

Through her adventurous spirit, Leslee loved to connect with people from around the world and made friends wherever she went. She traveled to Moscow, Russia and Beijing, China in times when it was uncommon for Americans to visit. She also made special connections in Mexico and Santo Domingo. Some of her fondest memories were shared with friends in Loveland, Ohio (her "Brigadoon") and Grailville; Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. Health Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia; and at the beautiful Sacred Mountain Ashram in Gold Hill, Colorado. However, she also made lasting friendships at grocery stores and restaurants. She had too many friends in Richmond, Virginia and Boulder, Colorado to count. She was such a radiant being, her warm and loving energy rippled out into our world far beyond the circles of friends around her.

Miss Leslee had such an uncanny ability to lift spirits and inspire anyone. If you observe all that she embodied, you might learn some of her mystical secrets. One of her greatest gifts was her ability to smile and laugh. Like water, she would gracefully allow situations to change and evolve without ever trying to force or control them. Her playful laughter was imbued with wisdom and somehow was a guide to navigate beyond any obstacle. She was powerful in her ability to remind you that there is always a higher purpose to everything in life. She taught to trust the flow of divine timing and always know that we are at the perfect place, at the perfect time, for the perfect experience. Breathe deeply and seek the gifts of being present in every moment. There were no walls to the warmth and depth of her love. She trusted in the protection of angels always. Feathers, feathers, feathers. Her last words of wisdom were to love God with all your heart. There is no doubt that she has returned to the magnificent ocean of light.

She is survived by her sister Carroll Boutte, sons David and Michael Elsea; daughters Mary Elsea (Steve Mills) and Christina Turco; nephews Michael Boutte (Fe), and Joe Boutte (Jody), niece Donna Boutte Denny (Tom); grandchildren Sarah Elsea, Derek Mills (Bethany), Jennifer Wilson (Fred), Natalie Schuler, Matthew Schuler, and Benjamin Schuler; great-grandchildren Sean and Eva Mills, and Harper Wilson; grand-nieces Carrollann and Michelle Boutte, and Raina, Jessica, and Danielle Boutte. Dear friends from Loveland, Ohio and Richmond, Virginia where she lived most of her life; and Boulder, Colorado where she lived the last 12 years – are far too numerous to count. She was preceded in death by John Elsea and son Richard Elsea.

Donations may be made in her name to Sacred Mountain Ashram; 10668 Gold Hill Road; Boulder, CO 80302; or to the Sierra Club.