Elisha Helen Pereira, 31, died on Sunday, November 14, 2021, of an accidental overdose. She had been in recovery when a relapse and the availability of a particularly lethal form of street drugs claimed her life.
Elisha was born in Springfield, VT, on November 29, 1989 to Mark Pereira and Linda Tsetsi of Charlestown, NH. She attended Charlestown schools until she moved to Gulfport, FL, in 1998. As a young adult, she moved to Torrington, CT, where she gave birth to her only child, a son, John Thomas Smith. She worked hard to provide for her son, managing a Cumberland Farms Store.
Elisha was predeceased by her mother, Linda Tsetsi in 2019; and by her father, Mark Pereira in 2020. Elisha provided end-of-life care to both of her parents.
Recently, Elisha moved back to Charlestown to live with her brother. She is survived by her 12 year-old son, John Thomas Smith of Torrington, CT; her older brothers Kraig Pereira of Charlestown, NH, and Brandon Pereira of Fall River, MA; her paternal grandmother, Helen Pereira of MA; a nephew Bayne Richardson of ME; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
As a child, Elisha’s teachers always commented about how kind, caring and cooperative she was. Her cousin Chad noted that she would do anything for the people she loved. She was also feisty, “strong-willed, who could always make you laugh.” As the youngest in a family of mostly boys, Elisha could hold her own.
Elisha was easy-going, and always had a lot of friends – she was really easy to love. Her mother referred to her as a ‘social-butterfly’, a fitting description as she flew from one activity to the next, landing on new friends along the way. As a child she was always involved in various activities: gymnastics, dancing, scouts, a church youth group. She loved helping others and always had a willingness to try new adventures. She worked hard, and was deeply loved by her family and friends.Elisha’s personality shone like the sun, emitting a very special light. If you knew her, you could never forget her. She will be eternally loved.
Donations to help with Elisha’s funeral expenses are greatly appreciated and can be made through gofundme: https://gofund.me/d050809b
The Stringer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
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