Elizabeth Whalen

She left this world on August 6, 2024.

Elizabeth was born in Sparta, Greece on February 14, 1929 (Valentine’s Day- Day Of Love).

She died on August 6th, which in the Greek Orthodox Church is the Holiest Day of the year to pass away, the transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

My mother Elizabeth, so smart, very pretty, loved traveling which she did a lot of with her second husband Bruce Rich. He adored her.

My mom was so caring, funny and loved striking up a conversation with all people. Younger people especially loved being with her and talking about anything. My whole life all my friends always called her Mom.

Being her son, I was so lucky and proud Elizabeth Whalen was my Mom!

She was always helping and protecting me and taking care of me.

My Mom had friends across the country. People from the early 1960’s would always stay in touch, through the years no matter where we lived. All her girlfriends would plan vacations together. Distance did not matter, she was loved and she loved back.

When we both moved from Boston to Southern California in 1977, she married her second husband Bruce and we began a new life. I was stationed only 22 miles away in the Navy and lived in San Clemente. Mom was in Irvine, always close.

She ran my first dental lab. Mom was an amazing accountant and the dentists and staff loved her.

She enjoyed going into the offices to pick up and deliver all of the lab cases. The girls of the offices would go out for coffee and lunch all the time. Mom loved going to the ocean. She was always very active in the Greek Orthodox Church. She loved working the activities. The ladies group, picnics, festivals, cooking and baking pastries.

One of my fondest memories was watching my mom bouncing around to all the tables at every event talking and laughing with everybody.

In 2010 she sold her house and moved to Arizona to help me with my 3rd Dental Lab. Coming from Southern California and only a couple of miles from the ocean, Arizona was a hard change. She didn’t like Arizona much, but she sacrificed everything to help me.

She loved going to Sedona, shopping in Scottsdale. We went out to eat at her favorite places a lot. In Sedona her favorite place was the Enchanted Resort and we ate every meal there. The whole staff always came over to our table and loved talking to her.

In 2017 she started needing more help and attention. I couldn’t keep working and helping her more, so I sold the dental lab and took care of my loving mom full time. She sacrificed so much for me all of my life, it was only right for me to do the same for her. At 91 years she started getting a few problems. Then Covid came we were inside a lot. Even though it got rough, she kept the faith in God and stayed a Spartan as best as she could.

The last thing she saw, touched and heard was me. Thank you Lord. I hope I see her again. I will miss her every second I live.

“My little Boo Boo”

I love you!

Nico