My mom Liz just passed away tonight. It’s not unexpected. And sadly, given her health, it’s perhaps not even so tragic; she’s been declining for years from Alzheimer’s and all but stopped eating in recent weeks. I’m sure I’ll find voice to tell some stories in the months ahead, but for now I’ll share some pictures. She would have turned 85 next month.
Liz Kleintop, 1950 or 51, approx 20 years old
The last visit with my kids, May 2015.
Dancing with Theo, Christmas 2009
In October 2007 we had a family weekend at a B&B in Strasburg Pa train country. Here Theo explains something to her at Cherry Crest Farm.
Francis explores her new room, July 2013.
Liz and my wife Julie at Longwood Gardens, Spring 2006.
Enjoying polka night at the Ukrainian hall in Millville, N.J.,following granddaughter Laura’s baptism.
April 2003, on one of our standing weeky lunch dates.
A visit to her independent living apartment, July 2012.
Probably the oldest picture of Liz I have, from 1931. Elizabeth “Lizzie” “Grammy” Williams Noll, Elizabeth Kleintop, Puerette “Puri” “Pappy” Noll. On porch of Columbia Ave. home, Palmerton.
A note about names: she was born in late summer 1930 as Elizabeth Ann Kleintop. In her adult life she went as Betsy and took the last names of her partners. In her late 60s she decided to take back a variation of her last name and overnight Betsy Kelley became Liz Klein.