Elizabeth O'Brien Obituary

Elizabeth Anne Hofferber O'Brien, 72, of Lawrence, KS, passed away at home on December 23, 2017 at 11:12 pm. Her big personality, Happy-Go-Lucky spirit, and her unselfish nature will be greatly missed by all. She was known to everyone as "Grandma Bizz" and she held a very special place in the hearts of her two children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her world revolved around the love she had for them. Her greatest wish in life was to be surrounded by her family, always! There are many awesome "Grandma Bizz" stories and she loved reminiscing about all the fun times we had together. Some of her favorite activities included coffee with family, surprise parties, and show-tunes from the Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and Oklahoma.

She was born in Glendale, CA, and spent her early years in Paris, France and Cameroon, Africa. She loved to travel and passed that quality on to her family. She lived in CA, AR, ID, UT and OR before settling down in Lawrence, KS. She went to Secretarial college in Boston, MA. Her main employment for many years was a telephone switchboard operator in CA, UT and in Lawrence, KS for Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She loved to read, do crosswords puzzles, and play dice or cards. She enjoyed crocheting baby blankets, hats, and booties! There are many children in Lawrence and across the country that are wrapped warmly in a Grandma Bizz Creation. She volunteered/worked for Just Food and Penn House where she worked hard to help the hungry and homeless; as she understood their situation first hand because she had been hungry and homeless and vowed to never see another person have to suffer. Additionally, she had a huge passion for rescue animals and blessed her grandchildren with many pets over the years.

We love you Grandma Bizz!

Survivors include her mother, Jane Skurdal, Raymore, MO; sister, Connie Hofferber-Jones, Canoe Island, WA; daughter, Dawn O'Brien Taylor (Leonard) Bloomsburg, PA; granddaughter, Crystal Taylor (Ben), great-grandsons, Chase Scruggs & Corben Taylor, Lawrence, KS; grandson, Ricky Lockner (Anna), great-grandchildren, Adalee & Roderick Lockner, Aurora, OH; son, Shawn O'Brien (Catherine), grandchildren, Alexzander, Katelyn, Kaden, Ashley, Kaci, Lawrence, KS. She was preceded in death by her sister, Terry Moore.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life and her 73rd Birthday at:

The W Banquet Hall 704 Connecticut St, Lawrence, KS 66044.

January 24, 2018

4:34 PM to 8:34 PM (cocktail hour, appetizers, and remembrance)

Memorial Contributions may be made in her name and sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Family requests, no flowers or gifts.

For more information or to post a condolence, please visit warrenmcelwain.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World from Dec. 28, 2017 to Jan. 7, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Elizabeth O'Brien

13 Entries

tapainga Reno

February 12, 2018

Grandma Bizz was a lovely woman. She considered me as her own granddaughter. I am glad that she made me part of her wonderful family. I love her and miss her!!!

Donna Lang

January 24, 2018

We knew Grandma Bizz as a wonderful grandmother to her grandchildren who went through the Lawrence Early Childhood Program. She was a happy and involved grandma and it was always a pleasure to interact with her. She will be remembered as one of those great grandparents we had the honor of knowing.

Ricky Lockner

January 21, 2018

Love and miss you everyday G Ma! Thank you for all the life lessons. I keep running across things in my life that make me think "my Grandma taught me that." I love and miss you so much and will cherish the memories.

Carrie Wallace

January 10, 2018

I knew Grandma Bizz from Just Food and Penn House. She told me just a few of the amazing stories of her own childhood and other times in her life. She took a special interest in my children. Once she offered to mend a little sweater I found in Penn House, which I took her up on. I was so surprised and happy that she would do that for us, but I shouldn't have been surprised. That's who she was. She always seemed interested in my life and what my children were up to, as she was with everyone who came in. I bet she knew the names of hundreds of children. She made the nonprofits she worked at so much better with her wonderfully generous, kind spirit. Her understanding came from having "been there", and so she was pretty easy to talk to. I will miss her a lot, and I feel lucky to have known her even a little bit. I hope her family is comforted in knowing how she touched the lives of so many.

Mary Gordon

January 8, 2018

Bizz was the most efficient telephone operator that I have ever known. I think she had every extension number memorized for the whole hospital(LMH). She loved her family dearly and supported and encouraged them in all their endeavors.

Dawn O'Brien Taylor

January 8, 2018

I love you mom! You are the brightest star in the sky! You are missed beyond words. We will be celebrating your life on your birthday! Lots of love, your daughter

Crystal Taylor

January 8, 2018

Thank you to everyone for your kind words, my grandma touched so many lives and it makes me proud to be her granddaughter and carry on her legacy! It makes my heart happy to see all the good memories people are sharing and remember her for!!!

Please let us know if you will be joining us, so we have a head count, for the Celebration of Life
Elizabeth Anne Hofferber O'Brien
AKA: Bizz or Grandma Bizz
Join us to celebrate her life and what would have been her 73rd birthday.

If you have a memory or story of how Grandma Bizz touched your life or the lives of others, please post here. We will compile them for her remembrance.

https://www.facebook.com/events/158881024740420??ti=ia

Sherry Hobbs-Ford

January 7, 2018

Thank you for the Birthday Wish, when you found out my birthday was close. Thank you for the wonderful conversations we would have. I know how much you looked forward to your vacation. And it was my pleasure helping you with it, along with taking your boxes out to your van. I am going to miss you. And yes it will be a vacant seat. Although no one's going to be able to replace you. I am going to miss seeing you! And knowing that you're now an angel. Will hopefully heal my sorrow. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family as well as friends . You will be missed.

Barbara Hoover

December 30, 2017

Bizz you are going to be greatly missed by all you were an extraordinary woman with a big heart, I was blessed in having you as my best friend and I am going to miss our once a week dinner outings to talk about what's been going on and being each others sound board, my car still has auto pilot to
your house, it pops up as my most frequented place, You will always be on my mind and in my heart! Love You My Friend

Ertie Evangelista

December 29, 2017

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

Rosemary Harrell

December 28, 2017

RIP Bizz. You'll be greatly missed. You were a good friend who was always there when we needed you. We had some wonderful times together.

Crystal Kring

December 28, 2017

I met gma bizz a month ago at Penn house,I asked for warm blankets which lead some how to her asking if my husband and I would want to get out of the cold an watch her house for two weeks while she was out of town. After that we clicked an she just took us in as her own. I babysat two of her granddaughters a couple days an we talked everyday. I came to love her so much an when I got a call from her phone Christmas Eve an a matter told me she has passed I was in disbelief! I didn't get to have her in my life long enough but I loved her like I had known her my whole life! R.I.P gma Bizz

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