Elsa Rodriguez Preston

During these very trying times we at Donohue Cecere Funeral Home want to assure you that we have taken every precaution to provide a safe environment for you and your loved ones. Our locations are cleaned and sanitized daily and we continue to follow best practices for social distancing and safety.
In accordance with Executive Order 202.17 (which requires any individual over age two, and able to medically tolerate a face-covering, be required to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face-covering when in a public place) we are required to follow this mandate or risk being shut down; therefore, all individuals entering our funeral home will be asked to wear a face mask or cloth face covering.

As of the latest update we are able to offer limited visitation periods in the funeral home for family and friends up to 25 people per session. Please be mindful when visiting during these sessions to limit the amount of time spent at the funeral home. This will give the opportunity for other family and friends to visit.

Elsa Maria Rodriguez Preston

Attorney Elsa Maria “Elsita” Rodriguez Preston passed away with her family by her side on July 23, 2020, in New York City.

Elsa is survived by her loving husband of 24 years and daughter, Gregory and Gabriella Elise, her parents Tito and Milagros Rodriguez, her mother-in-law Geraldine, her brother and his spouse, Tito and Renita, her dear sister, Lourdes Maria, brothers-in-law Michael and Mitchell and her nephews and nieces, Antonio, Francis, Jasmine, Kareem, Jamel and Tajli, her godchildren, and much-loved family and life-long friends from Atlanta, Forest Hills, Floral Park, Brooklyn, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

A devout Catholic and an active member of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Westbury, New York, where she and her husband ministered to couples preparing to be married in the pre cana program and other church activities.

Elsa and Gregory enjoyed traveling and cruising. They enjoyed trips to Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, as well as visiting family and friends in various parts of the country. A techie and an enthusiastic music and movie fan, she enjoyed concerts, shows, and plays with her family. However, her greatest joy was watching her daughter, Gabby, perform in various roles during her training at the Molloy College musical theatre CAP program and celebrating her college graduation with honors this past June.

Her parents were immigrants from the Dominican Republic, and she was born in Brooklyn soon after their arrival. She and her siblings were raised in Bushwick and attended St. Martin of Tours Catholic School. An avid reader since childhood, she loved to read poetry and novels. She attended Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York. Elsa went on to attend St. John’s University, where she was inducted into the President’s Society and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English. She continued her education at St. Johns Law School, where she received her Juris Doctor degree.

She was an Associate Counsel for Legal Innovation and Operations at Con Edison., which married her skills as a lawyer with technology. Her legal career included positions at various corporations in New York and Long Island. Early in her career, she was an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the New York City Law Department. Before law school, she worked in public relations at the former Burson-Marsteller firm.

Elsa’s life was a short but full one, and those who were touched by her understood that the quality of her existence far exceeded the quantity of time she was given. She brought much joy and happiness to family and friends. Her beautiful smile, relaxed demeanor provided a nurturing mother with thoughtful and gentle guidance for her daughter. Her intelligence and humorous wit delivered insights and wisdom beyond her years to help guide a marriage partnership of 24 years to her devoted husband. Her unselfish nature allowed her to devote much time and energy to the care of both her parents and uncle who survive her. All will dearly miss her.

Due to current conditions, memorial services and a mass of Christian burial will be limited to family members. A link to view the mass will be posted on the funeral home website. Please feel free to share your sentiments and memories on the online memory book.

https://vimeo.com/441823376/f7ec2d82f0

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elsa Rodriguez Preston, please visit our floral store.