Liz Barrenechea Leavens was born in Vigo, Spain on Oct. 28, 1933, and died in Arcadia, California on Sept. 4, 2015, from cancer at age 81.
She was proud of her heritage from a Spanish Basque father and a French mother. The family moved from Spain to Brea, California when Liz was two years old, and subsequently to Pomona, California. Liz graduated from Pomona High School and then attended the Orange County Hospital School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse.
While volunteering at a Salesian Brothers camp to prepare it for summer, she met Hal Leaven, who was also volunteering. As he recounted the story, he wrangled an introduction from her brother and despite the geographic difficulties with the relationship (he was living in Orange County and she in Santa Monica) a romance blossomed. They were married on June 9th, 1960, at Saint Joseph’s church in Pomona. In 1961, they moved to Monrovia and settled.
Hal and Liz were blessed with three children, Mark, Suzy, and Maria. From the moment Mark was born, Liz became a “stay at home” mom. She was completely involved in her children’s school and sports activities. Mark and Maria attended Immaculate Conception Parish School while Suzy attended special classes.
Liz was a room mother and Physical Education teacher at Immaculate Conception School for many years. As her daughter Maria recalled “She would cancel any other event in her life to go watch a track meet, a football game, a volleyball game, a swim meet, a basketball game, soccer, etc., if her family was involved.”
She was also a regular usher at the 5:30 Saturday evening Mass. Her other community activities included being a docent at the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group’s Mother’s Day Tour for over 20 years. She was a regular member of the New Horizons Club at the Community Center. She was also a league bowler at Columbia Bowl in Duarte for years and continued at Bowling Square in Arcadia.
Liz had a strong faith in God and prayer. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Hal, and their three children: Mark and his wife Kay along with their three children, Katie, Kenny, and Melissa; Maria and her husband Alan Collatz of Bakersfield and their two children Alex and Tatum. She is also survived by her sister, Madeleine Barrenechea Dunn of Laguna Niguel; her nieces, Nancy Barrenechea Foster of Seal Beach and Teresa Dunn Kieth of Vista; and nephew Michael Ortega of Tacoma, Washington.
A Mass of Celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 28th at Immaculate Conception Church at 740 S. Shamrock Avenue in Monrovia. Donations in Liz’s memory may be made to Immaculate Conception School at the above address or to MOHPG at P.O. Box 734, Monrovia, CA 91017.
