Elizabeth LaCava

Elizabeth (Betty, Bettina DeMarco) LaCava

September 7, 1930 to June 24, 2025

A beloved wife, mother, and nonna, Betty passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025 in San Diego, CA. Betty was born and raised in San Giovanni in Fiore, a small mountain town in the Calabria region of Southern Italy. Daughter of Antonio and Teresa DeMarco, she was the eldest of six children. In 1952, Betty married her one true love, Luigi LaCava, in Pompeii, Italy. Luigi then immigrated to the United States with Betty joining him a year later, both with dreams of a better life. Her priorities were always simple: her family and her faith. Settling in San Diego, they made their home in Allied Gardens in 1960 where they raised their two children and enjoyed many happy years. Betty’s children and grandchildren were her pride and joy; she treasured doing things with and for them. Her special family memories included weekly dinners at her house, hosting holidays and celebrations, outings, and vacations. Admired for her talents, she was impressive both in the kitchen and as a seamstress. Betty enjoyed traveling, taking many trips to Europe, cruises, and outings with the St. Therese 55+ Club. Devout in her faith, she was a long-time parishioner at St. Therese Catholic Church. Betty’s life has been a testament to strength, perseverance, and sacrifice. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed.

Betty is survived by her children Joseph (Lorene) and Rosemarie (Brian Marshall), grandchildren Valerie (Joel Benjamin), Melanie, Christina, and Jonathan, and great granddaughter Olivia, as well as two siblings who reside in Italy, Maria (Battista Nozzi) and Luigi (Maria).

A funeral mass will be held at St. Therese Parish on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 10:00am with a rosary and eulogy starting at 9:30am. Betty will be laid to rest beside Luigi at Holy Cross Cemetery. For memorial donations, the family suggests Father Joe’s Villages and Food for the Poor.