Elizabeth Bruce Malone

Elizabeth Bruce Malone passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026, in Williamsburg, Virginia, surrounded by her loving family. She was 71.

Born in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, Elizabeth was a woman of deep compassion and strength, the very embodiment of the joy of life, known for her warmth and her welcoming smile. She attended the College of William & Mary, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1976 and a Masters of Education in 1981.

Elizabeth was an advocate for breastfeeding, and her dedication to this cause led her to become a certified as a La Leche League Leader, which gave her the opportunity to help countless nursing mothers over decades. She also rose to the training role of certifying other LLL leaders, expanding the circle of supporting breastfeeding families and the base for advocacy.

When she and her family moved to Germany, Elizabeth became an active member of the European Unitarian Universalists for many years, and during that time she was instrumental in forming fellowships in Kaiserslautern and Wiesbaden, Germany. She helped to create a Sacred Women's Circle for spiritual growth that endured after she moved away. Upon her return to the US, she sang in the choir of All Souls Church Unitarian in Washington, D.C. In 2021 upon her return to Williamsburg to be near her sister, she joined Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists. Her spiritual beliefs were unpretentious, yet she embodied them wholeheartedly in how she lived. She nourished all who came into her orbit, body and spirit. Her interests were as varied as they were profound, encompassing music, sailing, traveling, and cooking healthily. Even throughout her long illness, she called UU her home, her deep spirituality arising from its source in the Divine Feminine, as well as her love of music that was both her first and last language.

Elizabeth is survived by her loving spouse of 43 years, John Anthony Keating Jr.; her cherished sons, Patrick Malone Keating and Martin Malone Keating; her beloved daughter, Claire Rose Keating Malone; and her adored granddaughters, Meredith Palladino Keating, Sabina Palladino Keating, and Maeve Elizabeth Losi-Malone; by her loving siblings, sister Margaret Malone and brother David Malone.

A service to celebrate Elizabeth's life will be held on May 3rd, 2026 at 2 p.m., EDT at the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists Church, followed by the spreading of ashes in the Church's Memorial Garden, with a small reception afterwards. A Zoom link is available for the service at the following URL:

https://zoom.us/j/98265683763?pwd=yd9Zuaxzp5RyfGdnSTXCbj9FYYrbDq.1

Meeting ID: 982 6568 3763

Passcode: 120868

Additional internment of ashes in the Columbarium of William & Mary's Memorial Garden will be scheduled at a later date in July.

Death won't undo this, what has been done

That we were here, that we were loved

Our kisses given, Our hearts won

No, this never ends, once begun

That we were loved, that we were loved