Elisabeth Henriette Marie Louise Gendreau Bizzell

Elisabeth Henriette Marie Louise Gendreau Bizzell died on January 5, 2006 of Alzheimer’s disease. She was born December 31, 1920 in Le Pellerin, France to Louis and Marie Leneil Gendreau. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Guy Bizzell, her parents, her sister, Suzanne, and brothers, Paul and André. She is survived by her children Stephen, Renée and Janet Bizzell, and Suzanne Casey, son-in-law Dan Casey and grandson Kevin Casey, all of Austin. She is also survived by her sister Thérése Gendreau, sister-in-law Marie Thérése Gendreau, nephews Alain and Marc Gendreau, Marc’s wife Nicoletta and daughter Justine, and cousins, Pierre and François Gendreau and their families, all of France, as well as brother-in-law Ferrell Bizzell of Frankston, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews and other members of the Bizzell family. After surviving Nazi occupation and the bombing of her small village during World War II, Elisabeth met a G.I., Eugene Guy Bizzell, whom she married in Austin in 1947. They were married over 53 years, until his death in 2001. Elisabeth had varied interests including classical music and opera and she excelled in the study of English and Latin. She enjoyed knitting, working crossword puzzles, reading, playing with her cats, and spending time with her family. She was a member of St. Louis King of France Catholic Church in Austin since it opened in 1952. A woman without guile or pretense, Elisabeth was friendly with everyone she met. Before her illness, she could frequently be seen with a smile on her face. She was always ready with a quip or a joke, and she could often be heard whistling as she tended to her daily tasks. The family wishes to extend its gratitude to the staffs at Barton House and Buckner Villas for their excellent care. They also wish to thank the staff from Odyssey Healthcare for providing hospice care. Special thanks to Marie Martin, daughter of Elisabeth’s good friend, the late Marie Louise O’Shaughnessy, for her concern and many acts of kindness. One of the things Elisabeth brought with her to America in 1947 was a small leather satchel, handmade for her by her brother Paul. She kept that satchel all these years as a memento and is taking it with her on her final journey. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 8, 2006 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home in Austin, Texas. A private family service is planned. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Austin, 3429 Executive Center Dr., Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78731. Obituary and guestbook on line at wcfish.com