Elizabeth entered our lives at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital August 3, 2007. She and her twin, Sofia, were sent to the NICU, but Sofia came home to her loving big sister Renee. Eventually, Elizabeth was diagnosed with pediatric pulmonary hypertension, an incurable lung disease. We had been told that Boo would not see her first birthday. Wizard amazed everyone by surviving and thriving for the next eleven years! Always smiling, never discouraged, putting in 100% always and bravely participating in everything she wanted to try. Elizabeth possessed a very quiet strength, grace and inner peacefulness. Lizzy admired her big sister, Renee, for her gymnastics and dance skills. She and Sofia joined gymnastics and Elizabeth was invited to join the Team at Level 3. She decided to try a martial art, Choi Kwan Do, where her father had earned his black belt. Elizabeth earned her black belt, wearing a protective vest. Boo was proudest of achieving that before Renee! She recently started ballet at Expressions Academy. Lizzy was so very excited about ballet and practiced at home with her sisters. She became an honorary member of the USF Women’s Tennis Team. Lizzy loved attending their games and being in contact with their amazing athletes. Wizard was able to enjoy cruising with her family, travelling by plane, Broadway shows and so much more. She visited Hawaii, Alaska and Caribbean islands, but there was no place she liked better than home with her beloved dog, Teddy, and her sweet but odd cat, Sally. Unlike most children, she absolutely loved her schools, Bauder Elementary and Madeira Beach Middle. She thrived this last year and earned the school’s first ever Kindness Award! She took great care to always turn in her best work, even if it meant re-doing it several times. She loved art and could spend hours drawing and most recently teaching herself calligraphy. Boo was eagerly anticipating her Make-A-Wish to visit the Riverdale cast and Cole Sprouse during filming of the upcoming season in Vancouver.
She has gained her wings and can now breathe easy. Elizabeth leaves behind many broken hearts, Stephen and Diane (dad and mom), sisters, Renee, Sofia and Mariah, Uncle (Xhaxhi) John, her nephew Kyle, Godparents Stephen and Theresa and many friends and cousins. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Alton and Katherine Jones and Larry (Baba) and Irene Jance. Her Baba adored her so!
We will be having a viewing for her on Sunday, August 11th 4-7 p.m. at Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home located at 7950 131st Street, Seminole, Florida.
Elizabeth’s funeral will be held at the Garden Sanctuary on Monday, August 12th at 11 a.m.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to either the Pulmonary Hypertension Association https://phassociation.org/donate/ or St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church, 181-14 Midland Parkway, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 https://www.stnicholasalbanian.org/donation.
Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st Street, Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.
