Elizabeth Kandziora

MADISON
Elizabeth" Betty" our beautiful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt and friend joined her lifelong love Daniel, in eternal life on December 19, 2016. During WWII, they met through cousins first as pen pals, then became sweethearts. Time with family, friends, dancing, roller-skating, and horseback riding were their favorite pastimes as they fell in love and began life together. Losing Dan early in life, she had faith that they would be reunited in Heaven. For the next 34 years, she demonstrated her resilience by appreciating and making the most of whatever she was given or had to endure. She always saw the good in her life, making new friends and cherishing those golden friendships and family.
She was a lady of genuine grace who was always careful to consider others. She remained curious about the world and kept learning. She was independent and motivated "Let's never get old, no matter how old we get" and proud to be active in her 90's "I'm working on 100." She showed her resilience time and again when she lost Dan at an early age, and made a bold move from the family home to Madison in 2011 where she delighted in being part of a broad, intergenerational community. She was one of the first UW patients of a new heart procedure in 2013, lost her dear sister and companion Clara shortly thereafter and continued doing yoga and going to the gym every week. She enjoyed football and wore The Green and Gold right down to her Packer tennis shoes, every game day.
Those left to cherish her memories include daughter Pat (Rosie) Kandziora, Madison, Wis.; son Gregory Kandziora, Little Chute, Wis.; grandson Erik (Elise) Kandziora, Milwaukee, Wis.; great granddaughter Taylor; Meg Kandziora; the Peto and Jarozewski Families; and nieces, nephews and in-laws (WI, AZ, CA, CO), special friends June, Clare, Bob (Milwaukee); and friends at the Gardens apartments. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her loving husband, Daniel; sister Clara; and two brothers, Pete and John.
Thanks to UW Geriatrics, UW Audiology, UW Preventive Cardiology, Agrace Hospice and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church for their encouragement, candor, and gentle and capable care.
Ribbon-wrapped love letters of courtship from Dan accompany her on her journey to rejoin him in Heaven. To the end, her courage allowed us to celebrate her life even as we had to let her go: "I've had a beautiful life: I couldn't have asked for more. I'm ready when it's my time, to see Dan again..." Her faith, grace and good nature are inspirational.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, 602 S. Everglade Drive, Madison, with Father Bart Timmerman presiding. Family will greet friends one hour prior to mass. A reception will follow.
Inurnment will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 3801 W. Morgan Ave. Milwaukee, WI. Please contact the family for details.

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Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434