Elisa Elena Portz

Elisa Elena Portz, 55, of Independence, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. She was born in Denver, Colorado on July 17, 1967. Elisa and her family moved to Kansas City in the late seventies and from then on, made Missouri their home. On April 14, 1997, she married the love of her life, Scott Portz. In addition to her passion for Scott, Elisa also had a life-long passion for singing. One of the highlights of her life was when she experienced the honor of singing at Carnegie Hall, New York. She also had a keen interest in American History, an interest resulting in her and husband Scott taking numerous trips to historical sites around the country.

Elisa was deeply involved in her church and often marshalled various fundraisers and rummage sales, all to benefit the church. She was a lover of animals and even had what amounted to a menagerie of wild animals she fed in their backyard.

Elisa is survived by her husband of 25 years Scott Portz, mother Theresa Bellafiore, two half-brothers Robert Martinez and Donald Martinez, half-sister Toni Rene Martinez, and cousins Sherri Canada and Diana Glassner. She is preceded in death by her Dad Joe Bellafiore, her father Fred Martinez, and her aunt Rebecca Pacheo. Services for Elisa will be held at 10 AM on Friday, January 27th, 2023, at First Christian Church of Independence (125 South Pleasant St, Independence, Missouri) with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 - 7 PM on Thursday, January 26th, 2023, at Carson Speaks Chapel (1501 West Lexington, Independence, Missouri). The family requests memorial donations in Elisa's name to Wayside Waifs in lieu of flowers. Online condolences can be made at speakschapel.com.