1926
Elisabeth
2011
Elisabeth Squitieri
March 20, 1926 — February 13, 2011
Elisabeth Charlotte Squitieri (born Kupka), 84, passed away peacefully at KC Hospice on February 13th, 2011. Elisabeth, often called Liesl or Lee, was born on March 20, 1926, the middle daughter of Maria Worf and Rudoph Kupka.
Elisabeth’s life began in the idyllic town of Reichenberg, Czechsolovakia, at the base of the Ješted/Jeschke mountain. Her favorite early memories included hikes up the mountain with family and friends, dance classes with “silly” boys, and tea parties with her best friends Helga, Gretl and Inge, made beautiful by their Mothers who used real china and beautiful linens. These early memories and experiences would shape a good part of Elisabeth’s life. She was a social butterfly who gave wonderful dinner parties and taught her five daughters the value of getting out the good china and silver even when it was “only” family. At age seventeen, her idyllic life was interrupted and changed forever by World War II. After the war the Russian military confiscated her beautiful childhood home and forced her family to flee. She lost touch with her parents and found refuge on a mail train that took her to Vienna, Austria. She arrived there with the clothes on her back and the hope that she could locate some old friends who had left before her. In Vienna she was introduced to a handsome U.S. Army captain by the name of Victor. He spoke not one word of German and she spoke not one word of English, but they found a common language in love and opera.
Whenever possible, she joined Victor as he traveled doing business around the globe. Together they climbed the Eiffel Tower, saw bullfights in Spain, and curled their toes in the sands of the French Riviera. They danced in St. Marks Square, savored time in Africa on the Serengeti plains and walked along the Great Wall of China. Along the way they met hundreds of people who would stay in their lives forever. Elisabeth found great solace in special places: both the old, familiar homes of her large family, and the exotic destinations to which she traveled to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. She was also a consummate letter writer; her notes made their way around the world, leaving behind a legacy of love and caring. She was literally “famous” for never forgotting to send a birthday card to her entire extended family. . .and each one was filled with a special note for their special day. She loved the ocean, blue skies, the Springtime and beautiful flowers. . .and she knew how to stop and smell the roses.
Together Elisabeth and Victor would enjoy 65 years of life -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- and would remain steadfast in their union. Elisabeth was Mom to five daughters, grandmother to eight and great grandmother to two. She loved all of her children dearly. Victor passed away on April 19, 2010. It is fitting that Elisabeth left us to reunite with him in time for Valentine’s Day.
Predeceased by her parents as well as her husband, Victor, Elisabeth will be remembered and loved by her two sisters Christiana and Marianne, her daughters Linda (Nick), Susan, Anne, Viktoria (Scott) and Elisabeth, her eight grandchildren, Victor, Ashley, Charlotte, Kira, Samantha, Adam, Tori and Danielle, her two great-grandchildren, Brandi and Jasper, sisters-in-law Margaret and Lucy, brothers-in-law Raymond and Guerino, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
Services will be 2:00pm Saturday, February 19th, 2011 at D.W. Newcomer & Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf. Visitation will be 1-2 pm prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to either Church of the Resurrection or KC Hospice House, where Elisabeth was lovingly cared for during her last days. There are no words special enough to thank the “angels” at Hospice for all they did. Auf Wiedersehen (Until we meet again).
Elisabeth’s life began in the idyllic town of Reichenberg, Czechsolovakia, at the base of the Ješted/Jeschke mountain. Her favorite early memories included hikes up the mountain with family and friends, dance classes with “silly” boys, and tea parties with her best friends Helga, Gretl and Inge, made beautiful by their Mothers who used real china and beautiful linens. These early memories and experiences would shape a good part of Elisabeth’s life. She was a social butterfly who gave wonderful dinner parties and taught her five daughters the value of getting out the good china and silver even when it was “only” family. At age seventeen, her idyllic life was interrupted and changed forever by World War II. After the war the Russian military confiscated her beautiful childhood home and forced her family to flee. She lost touch with her parents and found refuge on a mail train that took her to Vienna, Austria. She arrived there with the clothes on her back and the hope that she could locate some old friends who had left before her. In Vienna she was introduced to a handsome U.S. Army captain by the name of Victor. He spoke not one word of German and she spoke not one word of English, but they found a common language in love and opera.
Whenever possible, she joined Victor as he traveled doing business around the globe. Together they climbed the Eiffel Tower, saw bullfights in Spain, and curled their toes in the sands of the French Riviera. They danced in St. Marks Square, savored time in Africa on the Serengeti plains and walked along the Great Wall of China. Along the way they met hundreds of people who would stay in their lives forever. Elisabeth found great solace in special places: both the old, familiar homes of her large family, and the exotic destinations to which she traveled to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. She was also a consummate letter writer; her notes made their way around the world, leaving behind a legacy of love and caring. She was literally “famous” for never forgotting to send a birthday card to her entire extended family. . .and each one was filled with a special note for their special day. She loved the ocean, blue skies, the Springtime and beautiful flowers. . .and she knew how to stop and smell the roses.
Together Elisabeth and Victor would enjoy 65 years of life -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- and would remain steadfast in their union. Elisabeth was Mom to five daughters, grandmother to eight and great grandmother to two. She loved all of her children dearly. Victor passed away on April 19, 2010. It is fitting that Elisabeth left us to reunite with him in time for Valentine’s Day.
Predeceased by her parents as well as her husband, Victor, Elisabeth will be remembered and loved by her two sisters Christiana and Marianne, her daughters Linda (Nick), Susan, Anne, Viktoria (Scott) and Elisabeth, her eight grandchildren, Victor, Ashley, Charlotte, Kira, Samantha, Adam, Tori and Danielle, her two great-grandchildren, Brandi and Jasper, sisters-in-law Margaret and Lucy, brothers-in-law Raymond and Guerino, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
Services will be 2:00pm Saturday, February 19th, 2011 at D.W. Newcomer & Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf. Visitation will be 1-2 pm prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to either Church of the Resurrection or KC Hospice House, where Elisabeth was lovingly cared for during her last days. There are no words special enough to thank the “angels” at Hospice for all they did. Auf Wiedersehen (Until we meet again).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elisabeth Squitieri, please visit our flower store.