Elizabeth Mary (Carter) Accordino's Obituary
Born into a large loving family in beautiful St. John’s, Newfoundland, Elizabeth and her 6 brothers and sisters enjoyed an idyllic childhood--learning to swim and ice skate on picturesque Quidi Vidi Lake.
They would watch in amazement as giant icebergs floated silently into St. John’s harbor. They would see the fishing boats returning and run down a long hill to greet them at the wharf--picking up the daily catch for dinner.
Her father, Albert, enjoyed teaching them how to hunt and fish--and decorated the most festive Christmas tree on the block. Her mother, Maud, was the consummate fashion and cooking wizard who passed down her remarkable culinary skills and passion for art and fashion to her children.
Elizabeth usually introduced herself as “Elizabeth, like the Queen” and she charmed all that she met, including our father, Frank. He would often tease her that they met on a ‘cold rock’ (Newfoundland) during a blind date.
From an upstairs window, our mother smiled from ear to ear as she looked over the handsome US Air Force Sergeant before letting him in the front door. The rest is history.
Our parents went on to have 5 children, open a small business and save for a beautiful home on Long Island, N.Y.
Our parents taught us the importance of hard work and the value of a dollar.
Holiday traditions were very important in our family. We have fond memories of ice skating in Central Park and watching the Rockettes perform their high kicks each Christmas. Visions of beautifully wrapped presents under a Christmas tree decorated with cherished ornaments collected through the years. Easter baskets wrapped in colorful cellophane. Birthdays were always joyous--topped off with a whipped cream cake made with a special fruit filling. A jigg’s dinner every St Patrick’s Day and even if you didn’t like boiled potatoes, you'd eat them...or at least tolerate them on the plate.
To this day, we all carry on the same traditions with as much flare as we can muster. When our mother worked for American Airlines, she opened the door to the world of travel....England, Jamaica, Aspen, San Moritz, Egypt, Paris, and Hong Kong just to name a few. We learned to pack quickly and be prepared for any adventure at the drop of a hat. One time we arrived at the airport expecting to travel to Hawaii for a New Year's celebration and ended up in the Virgin Islands. We were thrilled! Our mother was the ultimate optimist...5 children, white carpeting, and four small poodles.
Her love for her children took her to Texas, California and Arizona. 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren all loved her dearly.
94 years young and still had such a zest for life. We encouraged her to rally for a future trip to Hawaii once the pandemic lifted. Sadly, that would not come to be--God wanted his angel to come home. Mom you were one-of-a-kind, and we will miss you dearly.
What’s your fondest memory of Elizabeth?
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Share a story where Elizabeth's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Elizabeth you’ll never forget.
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