Elizabeth Mary Craig
Elizabeth Mary Craig enriched the lives of all who got to know her. She passed away May 1st 2012 at the age of 92. Born in Reading Pennsylvania, March 8, 1920, she attended local schools and graduated from Misercordia Hospital School of Nursing. She then served as a Lieutenant Registered Nurse in the US Army in Persia (Iran) and India during WWII where she met her loving husband Clayton D. Craig. After the war they were married and lived in Los Angeles where Craig Roof Company was established. In 1956 the family and company moved to Santa Barbara. Liz worked many years as a night shift nursing supervisor at Cottage Hospital. After retirement in 1986 they moved to Pioneer Ca., then to Little Rock, Ca. in 1999. Liz returned to Santa Barbara following the death of her husband in 2005.
Her life was one of service to Christ. She found her Lord and Savior as a young girl. She recalls her own confirmation, “I knew I was a soldier for Christ and have lived that way ever since.” It is not a coincidence that her departure from this world came the day after attending her granddaughter Cathy Craig’s confirmation, where 200 young people joined together confirming their devotion to Jesus Christ.
She served Christ through family, community and church. As a mom, raising eleven children, her great faith shined into all circumstances. She taught her children community through her involvement in the Mission Parish. “A mother’s heart is the child’s school room.” Henry Ward Beecher. She recognized and celebrated everyone’s individual worth especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her attendance at music recitals, theater, graduations, weddings, funerals and cheering at sporting events was awesome. She was known also for being amazingly consistent in sending cards for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and special occasions. For Liz, sewing, reading and crossword puzzles were her form of relaxation.
Within community specifically, she was active in Alpha Resource Center and School, Association Retarded Citizens (ARC), Handicap Encounter Christ (HEC), St Vincent’s, St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, Bible Study Fellowship and Word of Life. She is famously known for making bibs for babies and quilts for the homeless and women’s shelters. Liz and Craig established the coffee hour in St Barbara’s Parish at the Old Mission, where she was a Eucharist Minister. Throughout her life she served and became an essential part of each parish, Old Mission, Saint Barbara Parish, The Pines in Pioneer, Our Lady of the Desert Mission, and St. Mary’s in Littlerock.
Preceding her in death were her husband C D Craig, children Margaret, Tommy, and Mary; her siblings Dorothy (Dot), and Andrew (Andy). She is survived by her sister Claire, Sister-in-law Noni Saunders (Jim) and many nieces and nephews. Her children, John (Lynn), Janie (Robby Guillermo), Ruth (Dave Ambriz), Trish Craig, Anthony (Diana), Rita (John Flores), Dan (RoseAnne), Chris (Mark Bellefeuille), Nancy (Bernie Torres), Paul (Julie), and 27 grandchildren: Carol Craig Nelson (Gary), Scott Craig, Chelsea Guillermo Wann (Zane), Ben Ambriz, Emily Ambriz Gularte (Eddie), Craig and Marshall Brunelle, Clayton, Nathaniel and Claire Craig, Elizabeth Flores, Jordan Flores (Aly), Eileen Flores Milian (Bryan), Laurie Flores Duarte (David), Matthew Bellefeuille Kraemer (Jo), Erin, Luke & Jack Bellefeuille, Joshua Craig Torres, Kiira Cerasi, Tyler Da Luz, Zack Cerasi, Hannah and Ryan Craig and 11 great grandchildren: Davis, Trevor and Reeve Craig; Paul, Edward (deceased), Marie, Trinity and Anastacia Gularte, Elias Ambriz, Jazlynn Flores Duarte, Ryder Cerasi, and 3 more coming.
The funeral mass will be held on Friday, May 11, at 10:00am at St. Barbara’s Parish at the Old Mission with a memorial celebration following the burial. Arrangements by McDermott-Crockett Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, donations to Alpha Resource Center or Catholic Charities.