Elysse was born in August 1953 in Sibiu/Hermannstadt (The City of Literature), Transylvania, Rumania. In July 1980 she graduated from Liceul Pedagogic in the city of Arad. Days after, in August 1980, alone in middle of the night, with 43 cents in her pocket, Elysse left Rumania forever. Young, a bit scared of the unknown, she found comfort in then West Germany where she spent three months with her childhood friends. Circumstances forced her to go to Vienna, Austria, where she spent another seven months (90 kilometers from Vienna), in the former Hunting Palace of Emperor Franz Josef, leased by UN to help with the influx of refugees.

Elysse's numerous trips to Vienna, often long walks through "The City of Music & Dance," and the three seasons in the hills/forests of Austria reminding her of "The Sound of Music," played an incredible roll in helping her preserve her sanity, considering the political circumstances at the time, "cold war fever." Besides, soon Elizabeth, her only child, gave signs of wanting to engage in this human life, and brought Elysse new strength, new hope, and reason to discretely fight for survival. After all, fantasy prone Elysse was born with deep love for life and humanity.

In the spring of 1981 Elysse arrived in Canada from a refugee camp near Vienna, Austria, and ever since she inks continuously the theatrics of life, love, drama, and globalization.

Elysse in various stages of her Canadian life; becoming Canadian citizen; motherhood; social life; Elysse & Elizabeth @ Millennium Dinner in Toronto with her greatest inspiration The Hon. Great Bill Davis, former Premier of Ontario; with former Prime Ministers of Canada Hon. Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney; with Hon. Tony Clement, Canada’s Minister of Health, and as a volunteer while on his exec. board; with Hon. Mike Harris, former Premier of Ontario; with famous Canadian sculptor-painter-designer Josef Petriska, a gentleman she so much admires; plus relaxation, nature, book tour, etc.