Elizabeth Frances Calabrese

Elizabeth Frances Calabrese, born May 4, 1931; Died February 28, 2019; Loving daughter of the late Margaret Houlihan and Frank G. Maness; Beloved wife of the late Dominic Calabrese; devoted mother of Dominic, Samuel (Susan) and Joseph (Kathy); and sister of Kathleen and the late Geraldine, Eileen, Rosemary and Ellen. Grandmother of Monica, Mary, Mark, Maria, Agnes, Miriam (Bogdan), Pauline (TJ), Joe (Kylie) and Liz; great-grandmother of Julian, Jayden, Joel, Eviana, Roger, Benjamin, Anya, Solomia, Kendrick.

There will be a visitation on Thursday, March 7, from 4 pm to 8:30 pm at the Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home, 6901 W. Belmont (near Oak Park Avenue) on Chicago's northwest side. There will be a second visitation at 10 am followed by an 11 am funeral mass on Friday, March 8, at St. Bartholomew's Church, 4949 W. Patterson (near Cicero and Addison) also on the northwest side. Then burial will take place at Mount Olive Cemetery, 3800 N. Narragansett.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Chicago Lighthouse (Financial Development Dept), 1850 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago 60608.

Elizabeth Frances Calabrese: God's Newest Angel!

Devoted daughter and sister; loving wife and mother; doting grandmother and great grandmother. Considerate friend. Elizabeth has played many roles in her rich 87 years. However, she will be best remembered for the love she showered upon her family and the kindness she showed everyone she met.

Born in Chicago during the depths of the Great Depression, Elizabeth had a very poor childhood. She often told her family that she went to bed hungry and woke up hungry. Her childhood was further marred by the death of her Tennessee born father, Frank Maness, who perished in an automobile accident when Elizabeth was only three. Fortunately, she had a strong-willed Irish Catholic mother, Margaret, who successfully raised her and her sister, Rosemary, through the darkest days of the Depression. Margaret subsequently remarried. Her second husband was Nicholas O'Brien and they had three children: Eileen, Kathleen and Geraldine. Elizabeth grew very close to her half sisters and often said that she considered them full fledged siblings.

Following graduation from high school, Elizabeth had a number of jobs and boyfriends! Her stunning good looks often drew comparisons to Kathryn Grayson, a top Hollywood star of the 1940s and 50s. In 1951, at the tender age of 20, Elizabeth was swept off her feet by a dashing Italian-American, Dominic Calabrese, a World War II veteran who won a Purple Heart for his gallant service. The young couple settled on Chicago's northwest side and had three children, Dominic, Samuel and Joseph.

Elizabeth, who was scarred by the poverty of the Great Depression, was determined to give her children as good an upbringing as possible. She always saw to it that their Christmases and birthdays were extra special. She also taught her sons the value of a good education. All three got the message and each became teachers. When Sam and Joe married and brought her grandchildren, Elizabeth gave them the same kind of love and affection she gave her sons.

Her kindness was not limited to her family. Elizabeth treated everyone she met with dignity and respect. She had compassion for those who were less fortunate or had to endure great struggles, A favorite cause of hers was helping individuals who are blind at The Chicago Lighthouse, one of the city's top social service agencies, where her eldest son, Dom, was a senior vice president of public relations. Elizabeth also supported disabled Veterans and organizations helping animals who were mistreated.

Those of us who were fortunate to know her were enriched. She definitely made the world a better place. We are poorer without her!

To honor this very special lady, the family is asking that any donations made in her memory be directed to The Chicago Lighthouse.

There are also plans to establish scholarship awards in her honor to provide deserving students with the chance to receive a college education, which she was never able to do.

We will never forget you, mom! You will stay in our hearts and minds forever!