Elizabeth Leatrice Callahan

Beloved wife of the late James Andrew Callahan, III; dear mother of James Andrew Callahan, IV and Patrick Michael (Judith) Callahan; dear grandmother of Neil Andrew, Paige Gillian, Devin Ross, and the late Sean Patrick Callahan; dear great grandmother of Jack, Reilly, and Mia Callahan; dear sister of Carol (the late Joseph) Smith and E. G. “Bud” (Helen Carol) Reifsteck; dear aunt of Lee (Pat) Fallon, Lynn (Hugh) Krause-Davis, Mark (Cathleen) Reifsteck, Michelle (John) Hulser, Nancy Nicholson, and Charles (Lisa) Reifsteck; our dear aunt and friend to many.

Elizabeth was born in Webster Groves, MO on Tuesday, November 6, 1928 to Edward C. and Willa Rudloff Reifsteck. She married the love of her life James A. Callahan, III on March 31, 1951 and spent 52 years raising her family with Jim until his death on July 27, 2002.

During her life she gave her time and talents to her community and the activities of her children. As a Creve Coeur resident she spent 22 years on the Parks & Recreation committee, another 8 years on the Personnel Appeals Board, was a member of the Recycling, Environment, & Beautification committee and a member of the Creve Coeur Squires. To honor her efforts for Creve Coeur, she was chosen the Creve Coeur Citizen of the Year for 2005.

Elizabeth loved everything in the parish of Our Lady of the Pillar, she attended daily 7:30 am mass, was active with the Alter Society serving as President – 2013, served on the school PTA, was involved with the “Pillar Frolics”, and enjoyed her many friendships with the Parish community. Some of her fellow daily mass attendee’s say she would wear a different hat each day and it could be three months before there was a repeat of the same hat.

As if this wasn’t enough, she also was a member of the Chaminade Mother’s Club, volunteered time with the Danforth Plant Science Center, was a lifetime member of the St. Louis Christmas Carols Association, as well as loving to play tennis, bridge, swimming, traveling, was an avid reader, and enjoyed gardening, singing and dancing.

Services: Visitation at Our Lady of the Pillar Church, 401 S. Lindbergh Blvd. on Wednesday, July 1, from 10:00 am until time of Mass at 11:00 am.

Private interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Memorials to the St. Louis Christmas Carols Foundation, www.stlchristmascarols.org, appreciated.