Elizabeth Shandera

Elizabeth Jean Shandera

Resident of San Jose

May 23, 1924-October 24, 2010

Elizabeth Shandera passed away peacefully on October 24, 2010. She touched everyone with her positive outlook on life.

Elizabeth Jean English was born in Aberdeen, Washington. She graduated from Hoquiam High School, and from Washington State University. During World War II, Elizabeth proudly worked for Boeing as a mechanic, assembling and installing side gun ports on the B-17; later in her life, Elizabeth enjoyed going to air shows to see these airplanes that she helped build, and always impressed the young men flying and caring for these antique airplanes with her knowledge of how the aircraft were manufactured. After the war, she worked in retail as a buyer for Wolff's Department Stores in the Pacific Northwest, travelling all over the country. Later in life after raising her children, Elizabeth returned to retail for a time, working for Bergman's Department Store on Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen.

Elizabeth was an enthusiastic volunteer worker for politicians and causes she believed in. She was a dedicated supporter of strong women candidates for office and was proud that she worked on the campaigns of California Assemblywoman Leona Egeland and of San Jose Mayor Janet Gray Hayes, the first woman to be the mayor of a major US city. She was an active member of the American Association of University Women, serving as chapter president, and was a lifelong supporter of education for women. Elizabeth believed that women should have successful and exciting career opportunities, and was very proud of her own accomplishments as well as of the women in her family who succeeded in banking, medicine and other careers many years before career women became more common. She volunteered for Head Start and other programs involving education. Elizabeth supported many causes and was particularly devoted to civil rights and women's issues, supporting gun control, opposing legislation which would limit women's rights to choice, supporting gay rights, supporting environmental legislation and other causes which she felt were important for the liberty, fairness, and happiness of her fellow Americans, and particularly American women. Many people fondly remember Elizabeth rolling her wheelchair in marches and demonstrations supporting these causes.

At home, Elizabeth was an enthusiastic gardener, an inveterate puzzle solver, and an insatiable reader of any book she could get her hands on, fiction or non-fiction, current or classic.

Elizabeth is survived by her sons Kirk Flatow of San Jose and Bruce Flatow of Santa Cruz, her sister Irene Street of Aberdeen, Washington and her sister-in-law Alma English of Seattle, Washington. She was preceded in death by her brothers Sam English and David English, both of whom she loved dearly and missed daily. Elizabeth would happily and proudly recount the adventures and achievements of her family to anyone.

Elizabeth was also profoundly grateful to her long-term caregiver and friend Miliame Qoroya, who made Elizabeth's last years more full and joyful.

Friends and family are invited to a service at the Stone Church in Willow Glen at 1937 Lincoln Avenue in San Jose at 2pm on Friday, November 19. In lieu of flowers, donations in Elizabeth's name are appreciated, to either your favorite charity, or to the Northern California MS Society 1700 Owen Street, Suite 190, San Francisco, California 95158, phone 800.344.4867, web http://www.nationalmssociety .org/chapters/CAN/index.aspx.