Search by Name

Search by Name

FUNERAL HOME

Keefe Funeral Home - Cambridge

2175 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, Massachusetts

ELISABETH MONCREIFF Obituary

MONCREIFF, Elisabeth A Warm and Generous Spirit The world was not kind to Elisabeth Moncreiff at the beginning of her life, nor at the end of her life. But in the middle it was glorious. Born in 1932 in Innsbruck to loving parents Paula (Kompacher) and Siegfried Hohenauer, she lived under a Catholic dictatorship until she was 5 and the Nazi dictatorship thereafter; she survived the bombings of Innsbruck and Munich; at the end of the World War, she hitchhiked home from Southern Germany to Austria. She was 12. In 1953, she met Robert Moncreiff. They fell in love and moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. There she had the life she had always hoped for. Elisabeth died peacefully on May 8th after a long illness. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Bob and her dear son-in-law, Carlos Arrarte. She leaves behind her three children, Anne Arrarte, Philip, and Jane and her son-in-law Josh Passell. Her three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren will miss her warmth, humor, and unconditional love. Liz's gifts were many. French speakers assumed she was a native speaker, English speakers assumed it was English that was her mother tongue, and her German never faltered even after 65 years in America. In her role as a librarian, she also worked in Italian and Spanish and transliterated Russian. In her 20s, she was asked to model, posing with chic eye glasses or the newest skis. She had a lovely singing voice. She made wonderful boeuf bourguignon. She completed the New York Times crossword in pen each Sunday. She knitted gorgeous cabled sweaters and created the perfect English garden in her corner of Cambridge. With Bob, she read Shakespeare's plays aloud as part of the Cambridge Shakespeare Society and, like him, she reveled in the opera and the Red Sox. She had a big laugh and she loved a good movie. She was a good friend to have. As a mother, she never missed a third-grade play or a seventh-grade lacrosse game. She instilled in her children her love of a "good yarn," be it the story of Hermes stealing the cows from his brother Apollo, Semmelweis curing child-bed fever, or the power of Eleanor of Aquitaine. She had an unerring sense of fairness, a warm and generous spirit, a deep understanding of human nature and a stubborn insistence on the difference between "less" and "fewer." In addition to her work as a librarian, she worked at the Center for Survey Research at UMass and later, with a friend, founded Boston Bed and Breakfast, Inc., working with Harvard to help visiting professors and conference attendees stay in the gracious houses of West Cambridge. Eventually, Harvard realized how successful a business it was and asked for a portion of the revenue. Ever smart and practical, Liz agreed—in return for an exclusive contract. Thereafter, a brochure on Boston Bed and Breakfast went out in the mailings with Harvard's conference materials. Liz's professional life was a sideline to her calling as peerless and loving partner to Bob and guardian angel to any child lucky enough to come within her orbit. Liz sold Boston Bed and Breakfast to devote herself to the role of full-time professional grandmother. She nurtured each little person with her whole heart — with an endless supply of paper and crayons and cottage cheese. She would happily sit still for hours if a grandchild fell asleep snuggled across her chest. Parkinson's Disease was a hard ending to her magnificent life. But Liz remained her true self until her death. In the early 1950's, Liz served as a translator for Thornton Wilder on one of his trips through Austria. There she was, stunningly beautiful, smart, funny and speaking excellent English. He asked her what her plans were for her future. She said she hoped to fall in love and have children. He thought it was a great idea. And that is what she did. Burial services will be private. A Celebration of the Lives of Liz and Bob Moncreiff will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Community Therapeutic Day School in Lexington.

Published by Boston Globe from May 9 to May 12, 2019.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

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

Memories and Condolences
for ELISABETH MONCREIFF

Not sure what to say?





2 Entries

A very sad loss for her family. But, a life well lived.
As a very distant member of the Moncreiff family, here in Scotland, the old family, my condolences to Elizabeth´s extended family from across the pond.

Anne Moncreiff-Gray

Anne Moncreiff 1946 -

Other

September 22, 2023

To the Moncreiff Family

Please accept my deepest sympathies. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Michael Sullivan

Michael Sullivan

May 9, 2019

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results

Make a Donation
in ELISABETH MONCREIFF's name

Memorial Events
for ELISABETH MONCREIFF

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Keefe Funeral Home - Cambridge

2175 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140

How to support ELISABETH's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor ELISABETH MONCREIFF's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more