Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Elizabeth Margaret Luby, a resident of Davidsonville and previously of Edgewater and University Park, MD, died at home under family and hospice care following hospital treatment for a bowel obstruction and related ongoing conditions. Born on May 7, 1929 in Paisley, Scotland, Elizabeth completed her secondary education at St. Margaret's Convent School. During World War II, her hometown was the target of several German air raids. As a girl she lived through nightly blackouts and numerous trips to the bomb shelter while her father served as a local air raid marshal. She immigrated to Canada and then the United States in 1951 at the age of 21. Following a brief tenure as a nanny for a wealthy Canadian family, Elizabeth moved to Washington, DC where she took a secretarial position at the British Embassy. She met her future husband, Michael Luby, in 1953 and they were married in October of that same year. Betty was employed as a secretary and then procurement specialist at the University of Maryland from 1962 until her retirement in 1984. She especially enjoyed her assignment to procure athletic uniforms for the school's sports teams and fondly remembered a "secret" call from legendary basketball coach, Lefty Driesell, to select and acquire a flashy new uniform for the team in the 1970's. With her staff status the family became season ticket holders for Maryland football and basketball teams and she soon joined in sharing a family passion for these teams, traveling frequently with her husband to events including ACC basketball tournaments, football road games and the Orange Bowl. She was a longtime member of St. Mark's the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hyattsville, MD from the early 1950's until 1983 where she sang in the choir and participated in many church organizations. In addition to singing, one of her favorite hobbies was cake decorating. She made many beautiful cakes for weddings and other special occasions for family and friends over the years. In 1983, Betty and her husband moved to Edgewater where she lived on the Chesapeake Bay at Saunders Point until 2012. During these years, she attended Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville where she volunteered with the church's Lazarus Committee providing luncheons for families and guests following funeral services. She also volunteered at a local crisis pregnancy center. Her principal activity during the 1980's and 90's though centered on helping with the care of her grandchildren to whom she was especially devoted. She resided with her son and daughter-in-law in Davidsonville from 2012 until the time of her death on November 4, 2015 Mrs. Luby was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Michael Grattan Luby in 2008. She is survived by her son, Michael J. Luby of Davidsonville; and two grandsons, Michael G. Luby of Edgewater and Vincent Luby of Davidsonville. Family and friends may join in the celebration of her life on Thursday, November 12 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. A funeral Mass will be offered on Friday November 13 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggest contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, or Little Sisters of the Poor, 4200 Harewood Road, NE, Washington, DC 20017-1511.

Elizabeth Luby

Elizabeth Luby

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