Elizabeth Anne Zara

Elizabeth Anne Zara passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 29, 2024 in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 81. Born Elizabeth Lupien on July 31, 1943, she grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in a strong Irish-American family. After graduating from St. Mary's High School in 1961, she moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and began working as a keypunch operator for the State of New Jersey. Elizabeth married Joseph Edward Zara Sr. of Trenton, New Jersey, on July 4, 1964, and had three sons. She began work at the The Trenton Times newspaper in the 1980s, first as a keypunch operator and later as a computer systems manager. She continued her education in her 50s at Mercer County Community College. Elizabeth retired from The Trenton Times in 2004 and moved to Orlando, Florida, to be close to her grandchildren. She was enormously proud of her Irish heritage and worked meticulously in her later years to collect archival records and document stories related to the O'Donnell family of County Donegal, preserving them online for future generations.
She is survived by her brother Gerard (Jerry) Lupien; sister Peggy Neher; sons Joseph Zara Jr., Christopher Zara, and Fred Zara; and grandchildren Mackenzie Zara, Zander Zara, Nina Zara, and Damico Zara. The family will hold a celebration-of-life service in the coming months.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Gerard and Mary Lupien (née O'Donnell); sisters Mary Therese McCabe and Patricia Mitchell; and brother Alfred Lupien.