Elia “Billi” Willms passed away on Sunday, July 22, 2018, after a long bout of complications resulting from congestive heart failure. She was born on January 18, 1932 in Ponza, Italy to the late Pasquale and Lucia Onorato Falconieri. The youngest of 5, she was predeceased by her two brothers and sister, who passed before she was born, and her sister Rita (2009).

Billi came to the United States when she was 6 years old. She attended Jane Adams High School and studied sewing and dressmaking. After graduation, she worked in the offices of the Noesting Pin Ticket Company, but continued to sew for herself, family, neighbors and friends.

When she was 21, she met Frederick Willms (died 1995) who had just moved to the United States from Bremerhaven, Germany and married a year later. They had 4 children together. Once her youngest entered kindergarten, she began working at PS 85 in the Bronx, NY. Soon after, while working as a Para-Professional (Teaching Assistant), she went back to college (Lehman), earning her BS in Psychology, her Masters Degree in Special Education and became a Resource Room Teacher. She then earned another 48 credits above her Masters. Billi retired from the NYC Board of Ed after 38 years of service.

All during this time, Billi was the neighborhood seamstress and provided alterations for many of the local dry cleaning and tailor businesses. She also did sewing for work (school), creating costumes, stage props, curtains, etc.

When she retired in 2000, she moved to Poughquag, NY. She, again, became the neighborhood seamstress and immersed herself into the community, getting involved with local children’s theatre groups, In Motion Dance Center and Arlington schools’ theatre productions for which she made costumes and made alterations. Billi also taught sewing classes through Arlington’s Continuing Education Program for 8 years.

She leaves behind her 4 children: Karen-Anne Turcio (Joe), Alan Willms (Debra), Michele Silveri, and Jacqueline Swetz (Tom), 9 grandchildren: Joey, CJ (Allison), Janine and Matthew Turcio, Bryonn (Rachel) and Kristopher Willms, Danielle Silveri, and TJ and Brandon Swetz and 4 great-grandchildren: Camden and Callie Turcio and Adelyn and Brighton Willms.

Billi was always known for her enthusiasm, love of family, music, the arts, going to the casino (as long as they had the right quarter machines), generosity and her new found love: the NY Yankees, but will always be remembered for her gusto “Here!” when she played Bingo.

Will love you always, Mom. Take care of us from above.

Calling hours will be from 7 – 9pm on Wednesday, July 25 and from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9pm on Thursday, July 26 at McHoul Funeral Home, 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, July 27 at 10am at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha RC Church, 1925 Route 82, LaGrangeville, NY. Interment will follow at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, 342 South Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY. In lieu of flowers, make a donation to your favorite charity in her name, or do something to make other people’s lives better. Please visit Billi’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.