Elizabeth Ann Kircos

Elizabeth Ann Kircos passed away peacefully on May 6, 2025. She was 90 years old.

Elizabeth, called Betty Ann during her early years, Betty as an adult, and Elizabeth later in life, was born in Denver, Colorado on June 18, 1934. Her family moved frequently as a result of her father's growing work responsibilities and during his Army service from 1941-45. She lived in places as varied as Austin TX, Birmingham AL, and Jerome AZ, finally graduating from Bisbee High School in Bisbee, AZ in 1952. Elizabeth attended Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University), graduating at the top of her class in 1956 with a BA in English and a teaching certificate. Choosing the sky over the schoolyard, Elizabeth was a stewardess for United Airlines from 1957-58 until she married Paul Kircos. She always loved flying and looked back on those days as some of her fondest memories.

Elizabeth and Paul met in New Jersey and lived there briefly before moving to Detroit, MI, where Paul took over his family business. They had three children: Andrea, David, and Zoe. After divorcing in 1977, Elizabeth went back to school for a Masters in Social Work, receiving her degree from Wayne State University in 1979. She provided individual therapy through Family Service of Detroit and Wayne County for five years before running her own psychotherapy practice until she retired in 2002. She lived in Rochester Hills from 1980 until her passing, spending her last three years at Bellbrook senior living community.

An accomplished seamstress, Elizabeth sewed for her children, grandchildren, their dolls, their friends, and their classrooms, and made dresses and reusable pads for non-profit organizations serving girls in developing communities. She never met a fabric store she didn't like – but Haberman's was her favorite.

In her retirement, Elizabeth was devoted to the choir at the Congregational Church of Birmingham, to volunteering at the Resale Connection in Rochester, and to her volunteer role as fiction editor at The McGuffin, a national literary magazine housed at Schoolcraft College. She loved to read, sing, listen to opera, and enjoy a nice glass of wine. And ice cream. Butter pecan. She loved butter pecan.

Elizabeth is survived by her children, Andrea Kircos Skinner (Steve), David Kircos, and Zoe Kircos (Pete Rast), her grandchildren, Michael Skinner (Erica), Daniel Skinner (Myrna), and Carlye Slater (Conrad), Erin Rast, and Ava Rast, her great grandchildren, Orion Skinner, Emryss Skinner, and Josephine Skinner, and her sister, Wilma Lentz.

A memorial ceremony will be held at the Congregational Church of Birmingham United Church of Christ, currently located at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3633 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI on June 6, 2025. Guests are invited to pay their respects from 9:30-10:30am; the service will begin at 10:30am.

Those who wish to make donations honoring Elizabeth's memory should direct them to the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan, https://www.assistanceleague.org/southeastern-michigan/donate.