Quay, Elizabeth V. – Age 88, of Nashville, passed into the arms of angels on Sunday, October 16, 2011. Elizabeth (Liz) was born November 24, 1922 in Chelsea, Massachusetts to Richard and Parouhe Bodourian Mendilian. The family moved to the Bronx, NY, where Elizabeth attended James Monroe High School. She worked for the Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C. during WWII and served in the WAVES, before meeting and marrying Patrick Quay on November 30, 1947.
They moved to Knoxville, TN in 1955 where Liz raised 6 children and volunteered at local hospitals, school and the Red Cross. She had a beautiful singing voice, a quick wit and a generosity that won her countless friends over her lifetime.
Elizabeth is predeceased by her parents, her stepfather Torkem Varterian, husband Patrick, and brother-in-law Keith Strand. Survived by her adoring children, Douglas (Maureen) Quay; Janis (Steve) Elsner; Bradley Quay; Roger (Carol) Quay; Brian Quay; Christina Rowles and 7 grandchildren: Katie (Arnett) Bodenhamer; Dylan and Sophia Elsner; Michael and Tom Quay and their mother Linda Quay; Tony and Rebecca Rowles and their father Doug Rowles. She leaves a brother, John (Pat) Varterian of Bloomfield Hills, MI, and their children, Craig, Lynn and Julie; and her beloved sister Madeline (Keith) Strand of Detroit, MI, and their children Sharon (Chuck) Sutton and Susan (Daniel) Racklyeft.
A memorial mass to celebrate Elizabeth’s extraordinary life of devotion and selflessness will be conducted on Friday, October 21, 10am at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hartford, CT. Visitation for the family will be held 1 hour before mass at Taylor and Modeen Funeral home in West Hartford, CT, (860) 521-4400.
The family would like to give special thanks to Lawrence, Mariana, and Leon Branza, and the lovely staff of Branza Elder Care home for their love and care to our Liz over her last 3 years.
A special webpage for Mrs. Quay that contains an obituary and service details an be found at www.hibbetthaileyfh.com.
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