Margaret Elizabeth "Liz" Abe, 95, former Congressional staffer, teacher, homemaker and volunteer, died on Sunday, September 18, 2022 in Glen Arm, MD. A devout Catholic, she had a deep faith in God. She enjoyed spending time with family and close friends and being outdoors. She loved reading, cooking, art, travel, history, geography, gardening, nature, family pets and helping others.
Liz was born and raised in the Barcroft neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. She was an active parishioner at Saint Thomas Moore in Arlington, VA for much of her early life. She and her husband Al built their home and raised their family next store to her childhood home in Arlington. They eventually moved to their beloved "Deerhaven" home along Goose Creek in Middleburg, VA where both enjoyed the outdoors, country living, being active community members and traveling domestically and abroad.
Liz lost her mother as a teenager and grew up through the Great Depression and World War II. Liz graduated from Wilson Teachers College in 1949 with a degree in education. Known affectionately as "Betty" by college friends, she was also one of the last surveying members of the Wilson Teacher's College 1949 Twenty Club.
While single, she worked on Capitol Hill in the early 1950s. Married in August of 1955, she and her husband Al (who worked for Washington Gas Light Company) focused on building a home and raising a family. When children were older, Liz taught at Saint Mary's Elementary school from the 1960s through the 1970s. She was a working mother long before that was considered acceptable. She was an avid reader, loved gardening, painting in watercolors, was an aspiring cartoon artist, a wiz at crossword puzzles, and was always ready to volunteer within her community until late into her 70s. Liz was beloved by many for her quiet but impactful acts of kindness. Unfailingly, she would send cards and messages to friends and relatives for every birthday, holiday, or special occasion.
She was shy but never afraid to speak up when something was wrong. She lived her life with a sense of humility and quiet courage as she faced all of life's challenges. She was genuinely a beautiful and kind human being. As a child of the Great Depression, her brothers Earl and Bill served in World War II, so she despised waste and tried her best to repurpose materials or fix anything broken long before it became the "right thing to do." Her favorite meal was corn, crab cakes, white wine, and most of all, a good cup of coffee. And we would be remiss if we did not mention that she was a very proud Virginian, born and raised in Arlington, Virginia, and lived in Middleburg, Virginia, from the mid-1970s to 2010. She reluctantly moved to Maryland in February 2021 for health reasons and to facilitate caregiving by her children.
As a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, we could not have asked for a better example of a human being to help us embrace life's lessons. She volunteered for and supported numerous nonprofit organizations. This included delivering food and prescriptions, providing transport to medical offices, and supporting community gardens, nature conservation, culture, education and heritage. She was a regular reader and volunteer at St. Stephen the Martyr in Middleburg, Virginia.
We were blessed to have Liz in our lives for so long. She was a kind, thoughtful and intelligent person. Liz had a quiet wisdom, was a good listener, and had a good sense of humor. She also knew how to have fun and enjoyed the company of those dear to her.
But with her passing, there is now an inconsolable void that simply can't be filled. She will be terribly missed. And though we are very sad about her passing, we also knew after 95 years of life, our mother was ready to go back home to God after a long and wonderful life journey on Earth.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alfred Abe and sons Fr. John Abe and Douglas Abe. She is survived by her son Joseph Abe and his wife Gail and her daughter Mary Margaret Abe. She also leaves behind her sister, Patricia Soper, and sisters-in-law, Patty Abe and Loretta Abe, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M, Thursday, September 29th, at the historical Old Saint Mary's Church located at 5612 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039. Following Mass, family and friends will be asked to join us in a celebration of her life in Oakton, Virginia. Please contact her daughter, Mary Abe, at 301-609-0508 or [email protected] for additional details.
Liz was born and raised in the Barcroft neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. She was an active parishioner at Saint Thomas Moore in Arlington, VA for much of her early life. She and her husband Al built their home and raised their family next store to her childhood home in Arlington. They eventually moved to their beloved "Deerhaven" home along Goose Creek in Middleburg, VA where both enjoyed the outdoors, country living, being active community members and traveling domestically and abroad.
Liz lost her mother as a teenager and grew up through the Great Depression and World War II. Liz graduated from Wilson Teachers College in 1949 with a degree in education. Known affectionately as "Betty" by college friends, she was also one of the last surveying members of the Wilson Teacher's College 1949 Twenty Club.
While single, she worked on Capitol Hill in the early 1950s. Married in August of 1955, she and her husband Al (who worked for Washington Gas Light Company) focused on building a home and raising a family. When children were older, Liz taught at Saint Mary's Elementary school from the 1960s through the 1970s. She was a working mother long before that was considered acceptable. She was an avid reader, loved gardening, painting in watercolors, was an aspiring cartoon artist, a wiz at crossword puzzles, and was always ready to volunteer within her community until late into her 70s. Liz was beloved by many for her quiet but impactful acts of kindness. Unfailingly, she would send cards and messages to friends and relatives for every birthday, holiday, or special occasion.
She was shy but never afraid to speak up when something was wrong. She lived her life with a sense of humility and quiet courage as she faced all of life's challenges. She was genuinely a beautiful and kind human being. As a child of the Great Depression, her brothers Earl and Bill served in World War II, so she despised waste and tried her best to repurpose materials or fix anything broken long before it became the "right thing to do." Her favorite meal was corn, crab cakes, white wine, and most of all, a good cup of coffee. And we would be remiss if we did not mention that she was a very proud Virginian, born and raised in Arlington, Virginia, and lived in Middleburg, Virginia, from the mid-1970s to 2010. She reluctantly moved to Maryland in February 2021 for health reasons and to facilitate caregiving by her children.
As a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, we could not have asked for a better example of a human being to help us embrace life's lessons. She volunteered for and supported numerous nonprofit organizations. This included delivering food and prescriptions, providing transport to medical offices, and supporting community gardens, nature conservation, culture, education and heritage. She was a regular reader and volunteer at St. Stephen the Martyr in Middleburg, Virginia.
We were blessed to have Liz in our lives for so long. She was a kind, thoughtful and intelligent person. Liz had a quiet wisdom, was a good listener, and had a good sense of humor. She also knew how to have fun and enjoyed the company of those dear to her.
But with her passing, there is now an inconsolable void that simply can't be filled. She will be terribly missed. And though we are very sad about her passing, we also knew after 95 years of life, our mother was ready to go back home to God after a long and wonderful life journey on Earth.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alfred Abe and sons Fr. John Abe and Douglas Abe. She is survived by her son Joseph Abe and his wife Gail and her daughter Mary Margaret Abe. She also leaves behind her sister, Patricia Soper, and sisters-in-law, Patty Abe and Loretta Abe, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M, Thursday, September 29th, at the historical Old Saint Mary's Church located at 5612 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039. Following Mass, family and friends will be asked to join us in a celebration of her life in Oakton, Virginia. Please contact her daughter, Mary Abe, at 301-609-0508 or [email protected] for additional details.
Margaret Elizabeth "Liz" Abe, 95, former Congressional staffer, teacher, homemaker and volunteer, died on Sunday, September 18, 2022 in Glen Arm, MD. A devout Catholic, she had a deep faith in God. She enjoyed spending time with family and close friends and being outdoors. She loved reading, cooking, art, travel, history, geography, gardening, nature, family pets and helping others.
Liz was born and raised in the Barcroft neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. She was an active parishioner at Saint Thomas Moore in Arlington, VA for much of her early life. She and her husband Al built their home and raised their family next store to her childhood home in Arlington. They eventually moved to their beloved "Deerhaven" home along Goose Creek in Middleburg, VA where both enjoyed the outdoors, country living, being active community members and traveling domestically and abroad.
Liz lost her mother as a teenager and grew up through the Great Depression and World War II. Liz graduated from Wilson Teachers College in 1949 with a degree in education. Known affectionately as "Betty" by college friends, she was also one of the last surveying members of the Wilson Teacher's College 1949 Twenty Club.
While single, she worked on Capitol Hill in the early 1950s. Married in August of 1955, she and her husband Al (who worked for Washington Gas Light Company) focused on building a home and raising a family. When children were older, Liz taught at Saint Mary's Elementary school from the 1960s through the 1970s. She was a working mother long before that was considered acceptable. She was an avid reader, loved gardening, painting in watercolors, was an aspiring cartoon artist, a wiz at crossword puzzles, and was always ready to volunteer within her community until late into her 70s. Liz was beloved by many for her quiet but impactful acts of kindness. Unfailingly, she would send cards and messages to friends and relatives for every birthday, holiday, or special occasion.
She was shy but never afraid to speak up when something was wrong. She lived her life with a sense of humility and quiet courage as she faced all of life's challenges. She was genuinely a beautiful and kind human being. As a child of the Great Depression, her brothers Earl and Bill served in World War II, so she despised waste and tried her best to repurpose materials or fix anything broken long before it became the "right thing to do." Her favorite meal was corn, crab cakes, white wine, and most of all, a good cup of coffee. And we would be remiss if we did not mention that she was a very proud Virginian, born and raised in Arlington, Virginia, and lived in Middleburg, Virginia, from the mid-1970s to 2010. She reluctantly moved to Maryland in February 2021 for health reasons and to facilitate caregiving by her children.
As a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, we could not have asked for a better example of a human being to help us embrace life's lessons. She volunteered for and supported numerous nonprofit organizations. This included delivering food and prescriptions, providing transport to medical offices, and supporting community gardens, nature conservation, culture, education and heritage. She was a regular reader and volunteer at St. Stephen the Martyr in Middleburg, Virginia.
We were blessed to have Liz in our lives for so long. She was a kind, thoughtful and intelligent person. Liz had a quiet wisdom, was a good listener, and had a good sense of humor. She also knew how to have fun and enjoyed the company of those dear to her.
But with her passing, there is now an inconsolable void that simply can't be filled. She will be terribly missed. And though we are very sad about her passing, we also knew after 95 years of life, our mother was ready to go back home to God after a long and wonderful life journey on Earth.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alfred Abe and sons Fr. John Abe and Douglas Abe. She is survived by her son Joseph Abe and his wife Gail and her daughter Mary Margaret Abe. She also leaves behind her sister, Patricia Soper, and sisters-in-law, Patty Abe and Loretta Abe, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M, Thursday, September 29th, at the historical Old Saint Mary's Church located at 5612 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039. Following Mass, family and friends will be asked to join us in a celebration of her life in Oakton, Virginia. Please contact her daughter, Mary Abe, at 301-609-0508 or [email protected] for additional details.
Liz was born and raised in the Barcroft neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. She was an active parishioner at Saint Thomas Moore in Arlington, VA for much of her early life. She and her husband Al built their home and raised their family next store to her childhood home in Arlington. They eventually moved to their beloved "Deerhaven" home along Goose Creek in Middleburg, VA where both enjoyed the outdoors, country living, being active community members and traveling domestically and abroad.
Liz lost her mother as a teenager and grew up through the Great Depression and World War II. Liz graduated from Wilson Teachers College in 1949 with a degree in education. Known affectionately as "Betty" by college friends, she was also one of the last surveying members of the Wilson Teacher's College 1949 Twenty Club.
While single, she worked on Capitol Hill in the early 1950s. Married in August of 1955, she and her husband Al (who worked for Washington Gas Light Company) focused on building a home and raising a family. When children were older, Liz taught at Saint Mary's Elementary school from the 1960s through the 1970s. She was a working mother long before that was considered acceptable. She was an avid reader, loved gardening, painting in watercolors, was an aspiring cartoon artist, a wiz at crossword puzzles, and was always ready to volunteer within her community until late into her 70s. Liz was beloved by many for her quiet but impactful acts of kindness. Unfailingly, she would send cards and messages to friends and relatives for every birthday, holiday, or special occasion.
She was shy but never afraid to speak up when something was wrong. She lived her life with a sense of humility and quiet courage as she faced all of life's challenges. She was genuinely a beautiful and kind human being. As a child of the Great Depression, her brothers Earl and Bill served in World War II, so she despised waste and tried her best to repurpose materials or fix anything broken long before it became the "right thing to do." Her favorite meal was corn, crab cakes, white wine, and most of all, a good cup of coffee. And we would be remiss if we did not mention that she was a very proud Virginian, born and raised in Arlington, Virginia, and lived in Middleburg, Virginia, from the mid-1970s to 2010. She reluctantly moved to Maryland in February 2021 for health reasons and to facilitate caregiving by her children.
As a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, we could not have asked for a better example of a human being to help us embrace life's lessons. She volunteered for and supported numerous nonprofit organizations. This included delivering food and prescriptions, providing transport to medical offices, and supporting community gardens, nature conservation, culture, education and heritage. She was a regular reader and volunteer at St. Stephen the Martyr in Middleburg, Virginia.
We were blessed to have Liz in our lives for so long. She was a kind, thoughtful and intelligent person. Liz had a quiet wisdom, was a good listener, and had a good sense of humor. She also knew how to have fun and enjoyed the company of those dear to her.
But with her passing, there is now an inconsolable void that simply can't be filled. She will be terribly missed. And though we are very sad about her passing, we also knew after 95 years of life, our mother was ready to go back home to God after a long and wonderful life journey on Earth.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alfred Abe and sons Fr. John Abe and Douglas Abe. She is survived by her son Joseph Abe and his wife Gail and her daughter Mary Margaret Abe. She also leaves behind her sister, Patricia Soper, and sisters-in-law, Patty Abe and Loretta Abe, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M, Thursday, September 29th, at the historical Old Saint Mary's Church located at 5612 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039. Following Mass, family and friends will be asked to join us in a celebration of her life in Oakton, Virginia. Please contact her daughter, Mary Abe, at 301-609-0508 or [email protected] for additional details.
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