Elizabeth Frances Smithwa

December 1, 1932 – February 20, 2019

Elizabeth Frances Smithwa passed away peacefully at her home on February 20, 2019 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease at the age of 86. She was born on December 1, 1932 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Burke. She grew up in Allston, MA and graduated from Girl’s High School in Boston, Massachusetts. After High School, Elizabeth joined American Airlines as a flight attendant.

While working for American Airlines, Elizabeth moved to Los Angeles and met the love of her life Richard Smithwa. The couple were married on February 14, 1960 at St Bernadette’s Catholic Church Los Angeles, California and were blessed with their daughter Karen the following year and son Robert three years later.

Elizabeth studied art and illustration at Otis-Parsons School of Design as well as Cypress College. She was an accomplished oil painter when she discovered the medium of Fiber. Elizabeth made her first fiber collage necklace while a student of noted fiber artist Carol Shaw-Sutton. She had a fascination with all forms of wearable art and was a partner in the multi-media co-operative art gallery “Common Ground” in Fullerton, California.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband of 59 years Richard, sister Marie Rahall, daughter Karen, son Robert, daughter-in-law Vicky and granddaughters Naomi and Tatum.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on Friday, March 8, 2019 at 10:30 AM at Fairhaven Memorial Services located at 27856 Center Drive , Mission Viejo, CA 92692.