Elfriede "Elly" (Otto) Pfeiffer, 88, devoted wife of Albert Pfeiffer, died peacefully at her home on October 13, 2015. She was born on January 19, 1927 and raised in Pollnow, Germany now Polanow, Poland. During the advances of the Red Army in the last year of World War II, just one month after her 18th birthday, Elly lost everything - her life as she knew it, and her freedom. Her family was driven out of their homeland and she and a sister were captured and taken to Siberia to work in a Soviet forced labor camp. Among the less than ten percent to survive, she was released in 1949 and returned to Germany. It was an ordeal of which she seldom spoke, however it defined her life going forward. Elly and her family immigrated to the United States in 1954. She was a resident of Hartford for the past 60 years. Although Elly's manner was quiet and unassuming she had many interests. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, reading, music and ballroom dancing. Above all she enjoyed taking care of her family which included her two rescue kitties, Isa and Niko. By example she instilled a strong and honest work ethic and would remind us to put pride and love into whatever we do. The pride and love of which she spoke was evident in all that she did for her family. In addition to her husband of 65 years Elly is survived by a son Harald Pfeiffer of Wethersfield, a daughter Monika and son-in-law Robert Donais of Windsor, a brother Hans Otto and his wife Olga of Thompson, CT, a sister in Germany and several nieces and nephews in the United States, Canada and Germany. The family wishes to thank their aide, Janese Lawson, for her help in caring for Elly. A private memorial service will be held at a later date to be followed by interment at Cedar Hill Cemetery. To share a memory with the family, please visit www.dillonbaxter.com.