Watchung, New Jersey
The birthday presents are still wrapped, sitting on her mother's bed in Florida.
Elizabeth Wainio would have turned 28 on Oct. 8. For her birthday, she had planned to come to Florida from New Jersey to rest and see her mother's new home.
As district manager for the Discovery Store in New York and New Jersey, Wainio worked long hours and flew all over the country.
Just two days before she was supposed to fly to San Francisco for work, she returned home from Europe. Wainio had seen a friend get married in Italy. She had visited Paris with another friend, ate lunch along the Champs-Elysees, and walked inside a church where she lit a candle for her grandmother.
Wainio had always told her mother, Mary White, that if she ever got to see Paris, she could die happy.
After she got home, she called her mother, Mary White, and talked briefly. She talked about her trip. She said she was looking forward to eating her mother's spaghetti. She said she needed to go, to check her e-mail and messages at work, to make sure everything was on track before going to San Francisco.
Her plane, United Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania, near where her grandmother was born.
On Oct. 8, Mary White will fly to Baltimore, where her daughter grew up, for a memorial service. Then she will go to the crash site.
Just want to send a message of gratitude. You and your fellow flight 93 passengers and the plane crew will walk together forever as heroines and heroes. It was so moving to hear how calm you were speaking to your stepmother under such daunting circumstances.
Kareem Moreland
September 02, 2025
I read your story and learned of your bravery. Hou are beautiful and one in a ;million. I am honored to have read your stories. Rest in peace, dear friend,
Marcy Wright
August 19, 2025 | Columbus, MA | Friend
Happy belated heavenly birthday beautiful. You are loved and never forgotten.
AW
October 29, 2024
God bless. Gone too soon. Prayers for Elizabeth's mom.
Lori Marriott
October 25, 2024 | Mystic, CT
you are not forgotten
phil stafford
October 24, 2023 | Wallington, NJ
Happy Birthday Wonderful soul! You have touched many lives of the younger generation including my own! If there is a heaven, I hope your second fam from flight 93 is with you along the way celebrating how much you mean to all of us! We love You! Honor Elizabeth Wainio
Adri Maria
October 09, 2023 | NY
Happy Birthday
Nina
October 08, 2023
Happy heavenly birthday Elizabeth, thank you so much for your great sacrifice that day. You sound like you were a really wonderful, sweet, and ambitious young woman. I´m so sorry for what happened but know you will always be remembered. I cried watching the scene of your phone call to your stepmother in the Flight 93 movie. Hope you are enjoying your special day and my deepest condolences to all of Elizabeth´s family and friends. <3
Cara
October 08, 2023
Dear Elizabeth, just wanted to reach out again. Sorry I did not write on the 11th. We did not come up this year for the memorial service. Sarah came down from New York for the week and we decided to stay home and be with each other. We went to a wonderful restaurant in Ellicott City and had lots of Sushi and Sake in your honor. It’s been a rough month leading up to the 11th this year. A lot of family has joined you. On the 3rd of August Aunt Mimmi lost her husband Nails. Then on the...
Ben Wainio
September 13, 2023 | Catonsville, MD | Father
