Elsie Elizabeth McFadden, age 100, of Amherst, passed away on Thursday, September 22, 2016, surrounded by family. She was the wife of the late John Joseph McFadden. Elsie was born May 23, 1916, in New York, N.Y., a daughter of the late August Christian Scheer and the late Anna Gebhard Scheer. Elsie was very innovative. As a child, she used musical scores to teach herself to play the piano and music was a life-long passion. She also learned to sew and made or altered clothes for herself and her siblings. Elsie was artistic and liked to sketch. She was an avid reader and a strong supporter of education, instilling in her children her love of learning. Upon graduation from high school at age 16, Elsie desired to be a teacher, however, due to the Depression, she went to work and also assisted her parents manage their grocery store. After raising her children, Elsie took art classes and enjoyed oil painting. She completed portraits, still life, landscapes, primitive art and could copy the Masters from Grandma Moses to Jean-Honor‚Fragonard and even the French impressionist Pierre Auguste Renoir. Elsie and her husband enjoyed travel and visited many foreign destinations including China, South America and Europe. She was a former member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and most recently resided at Fairmont Crossings in Amherst. Elsie was a role model of charity towards all. She always had a kind word to offer strangers, family and friends. Left to cherish Elsie's memory are her children, Maureen (Gerry) Muro of Lloyd Harbor, N.Y., Stephen (Elvia) McFadden of The Woodlands, Tex., Jean Gorman (Martin O'Malley) of Cherry Hill, N.J., John McFadden (Peggy) of Amherst, Va., and Bill (Kathie) McFadden of Leesburg, Va.; her grandchildren, Gerard (Carla), Patrick, Kevin (Kristine), TJ (Meg), Teresa (Marcus), Bryan (Claudia), John Paul (Jackie), Michael, Jennifer (Norman), JW ( Mindy), Lisa (Dave), Chris (Anne), Matthew, and Fiona; her 22 great-grandchildren; her nieces and nephews; her cousin, Martin Gebhard of Eckenhaid, Bavaria; and her healthcare companion, Stephanie Carter of Amherst, Va. Contributions in her memory, to support community outreach programs, may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, P. O. Box 663, Amherst, VA 24521, http://www.stfrancisamherst.org/A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 332 South Main St. Amherst, VA 24521 on Saturday, October 1, 2016, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Carlos Lerma officiating. A reception will take place following the service. Interment will take place in the church columbarium on Sunday, October 2, 2016, at 2 p.m.Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Madison Heights, is assisting the family. To send condolences please visit tharpfuneralhome.com.