Elizabeth (Liza) Allenbach

Elizabeth (Liza) Allenbach (née Ivey), 72 of Alexandria, Va. passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. Born on June 19, 1949 in Panama City, Fla., she is the daughter of the late William Holder Ivey, Suzanne (née Farr) Ivey Crawford, and sister of Suzanne Starr (née Ivey) Flynn Turk.

She passed, surrounded in love, with her husband of 50 years, Stephen E. Allenbach; daughter, Tiffany S. Allenbach; and son, Stephen A. Allenbach. She is additionally survived by daughter-in-law, Suzanne; granddaughters, Grace E. Allenbach and Sophia M. Allenbach; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, specifically second cousins Adele Mae (née Holder) Stafford and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.

Elizabeth is a 1967 graduate of Bishop-Toolen High School in Mobile, Ala. She received her Bachelor’s of Science degree at the University of South Alabama in 1971, where she met and married her husband at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The couple was stationed overseas in Germany, where she started her family. As a military spouse, she played a significant role in the life of her family and husband during his service. 

As her children grew, she balanced her devotion to the family, continued her education and started her career. She received her Master’s Degree in Library Science at The University of Southern Mississippi in 1983. She had many professions over the years including teaching at Fort Hood, Texas, where she helped Soldiers completing their G.E.D.; librarian at Göppingen (Germany) Community Library; librarian at Darmstadt (Germany) Community Library; librarian at Frankfurt (Germany) American Elementary School; librarian at Frankfurt American Junior High School and Frankfurt American Middle School; librarian at Good Counsel High School, Silver Spring, Md. and librarian at Vermont Academy, Saxtons River, Vt.; Library of Congress; and librarian at Department of Labor Wirtz Library.

She appreciated spending time with her family and friends, the travels experienced throughout Europe, listening to music, gardening, including being a member of the Capitol Hill Garden Club, birding (wild and domestic), and cooking for her family; establishing the importance of family dinner. She practiced her Roman Catholic faith and upbringing, that she shared with her family, quietly and proudly. She volunteered and made positive changes in the communities at the local parishes throughout the tours of duties that the family was assigned. Elizabeth and her daughter also worked on family ancestry. She loved her family and was proud of her husband’s and son’s service to our country. Elizabeth loved her daughter-in-law, Suzanne and grandchildren, Grace and Sophia; she was delighted to have our family roots grow.

She will be missed dearly by her friends and family with whom special memories were created and cherished.

A Requiem Mass is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, at 3:30 p.m. at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, 3815 Russell Road, Alexandria, VA 22305. Please see the website for further details on location, parking and COVID-19 restrictions (https://stritaalexandria.com/).

A brief gathering will be followed at RT’s (Sonny Callahan Room), 3804 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305 (https://www.rtsrestaurant.net).

A Mass offered to Elizabeth’s memory will be held in Mobile, Ala. in the near future. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Florida Exotic Bird Sanctuary (FEBS) (https://flabirdsanctuary.org). Elizabeth, like Saint Francis, had a soft spot in her heart for animals. Please consider donating to FEBS, a wonderful organization that takes care of our feathered friends.