David "PopPop" B. K.

Elson

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David was, simply put, one of the good ones.

David “PopPop” Elson, of North Attleboro, passed away peacefully on November 10th, 2026, at the Hope Health Hospice Center in Providence, RI just three days after celebrating his 92nd birthday.

David was, simply put, one of the good ones. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather, a man of deep Christian faith, and someone who believed in living simply, working hard, doing the right thing, and taking care of the people you love.

Born on November 7, 1934, in Norwood, Massachusetts, he was the third of Gladys & George Elson five children. David grew up in the house his Father and Grandfather built after relocating from Milton, MA, which still stands today at 242 Mountain Street in Sharon, Massachusetts. It was a gentleman’s estate farm. He often shared stories of his farm workdays, gathering eggs, carrying heavy buckets of water back and forth, and walking more than a mile to school.

While attending Sharon High School he thrived is his studies and sports. Captain of the Basketball and Football teams. David worked at Spear hardware store and Morgan’s restaurant uptown. A talented student with a gift for mathematics, he was accepted to Bentley University following high school. With college financially out of reach for him and his family with 4 other siblings, David instead chose to serve his country, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps.

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He cherished time spent together; his girls, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren sporting events, plays, concerts, church services.

During his years of service, David was stationed in Philadelphia, where something even more important happened: he met the love of his life, Patricia "Patti" Holland, his beloved "Philly girl."

After his military service, David returned to Sharon, Massachusetts, with Patti, and together they built a life centered around family. They welcomed their daughters, Sheryle and Carol Elson.

Drawing on the experience he gained working in restaurant as a young man, David eventually opened a restaurant of his own, The Pilgrim Restaurant, located on Hancock Street in Quincy, Massachusetts. He, along with Patti, successfully owned and operated The Pilgrim Restaurant for 22 years, from 1962 until 1984 and received numerous recognition awards for their business.

David later began another chapter with the Town of Sharon, at the Sharon High School, working as a custodian until the remarkable age of 79. He genuinely enjoyed his work, the people he encountered each day, and being part of the Sharon community where he had grown up and maintained many lifelong friendships.

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His message was consistent: be a good person, a good listener, do the right thing, work hard, don't complain, and take care of your family.

Family was at the center of David’s life. He cherished time spent together; his girls, his grand children and great grandchildren sporting events, plays, concerts, church services and in later years especially the family's Sunday Supper Club at Sheryle & Joe’s house. Countless summer days were also spent gathered around PopPop's pool, where his grandchildren and great-grandchildren created memories that will remain with them for decades to come.

David enjoyed life's simple pleasures. He loved his scratch tickets and the lottery, making his famously healthy soups, and sharing his thoughts on the importance of living well. He was an intelligent man and a good listener. In recent years, following the passing of his beloved Patti, his black Lab, Gus, became his faithful companion and brought him tremendous comfort and company.

Perhaps David's greatest legacy, however, is found in the values he passed along. Whether through a family prayer before dinner or a conversation during a quick visit that inevitably became something more meaningful, his message was consistent: be a good person, a good listener, do the right thing, work hard, don't complain, and take care of your family.

David is survived by his daughter Sheryle and her husband, Joseph DeGirolamo, of North Attleboro, Massachusetts; his granddaughters Kristen and her husband, Scott Flaherty, of Foxborough, Massachusetts; Kim and her husband, Dave Tebbetts, of North Attleboro, Massachusetts; Katelyn and her husband, Alec Voorhis, of Gorham, Maine; Kerin and her husband, Brad Norkum, of Porcupine, Canada; and his grandson Joseph and Haile DeGirolamo of Attleboro, Massachusetts.

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His long life was one of hard work, faith, humility, generosity and devotion to those around him.

He was also the loving great-grandfather, "PopPop," to Matthew, Nicholas, Jesse and Danika Flaherty; Laney and Leia Tebbetts; Tucker, Juniper and Viktor Voorhis; Penelope, Duke and Heath Norkum; and Alana and Gemma DeGirolamo.

David was predeceased by his beloved wife, Patti, on June 27th, 2021 and his daughter Carol on May 24th, 1973.

More than anything, David loved his family, and he made sure they knew it. His long life was one of hard work, faith, humility, generosity and devotion to those around him. His family will miss his stories, his wisdom, his steady presence, his prayers around the dinner table, and the comfort of simply knowing that PopPop was there.

He lived the way he encouraged others to live: work hard, appreciate what you have, take care of your family, and above all, be a good person and do the right thing.

Services will be private as per his request.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the J. J. Duffy Funeral Home, Cumberland, RI.

ONLINE MEMORIAL: jjduffyfuneralhome.com