Elizabeth Anne “Lizzie” Beckley

May 9, 1936 – July 30, 2025

Elizabeth Anne “Lizzie” Beckley (née Hodges), beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2025, in Sacramento, California. She was 89 years old.

Born on May 9, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, Elizabeth spent her formative years in Arcadia, California, surrounded by the vibrant energy of her large family of eight siblings. From an early age, she displayed a boundless curiosity and a fierce determination that would guide her throughout her life.

Elizabeth graduated from Immaculate Heart High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology from UCLA. Her academic achievements laid the foundation for a distinguished career spanning three decades as a lead microbiologist and educator within the University of California system. Her work not only advanced scientific understanding but also inspired generations of students and colleagues.

Elizabeth married Ronald Beckley and together they made their home in Sacramento. There, she raised her two daughters, Jeanne Beckley and Julie Johnson, instilling in them the same values of perseverance, compassion, and intellectual curiosity that defined her own life. After Ronald’s passing, Elizabeth embraced a new chapter filled with travel, gardening, and the joys of grandparenting. She later found love again with John Mahaney. Their shared passions for travel, Broadway musicals, Oakland A’s baseball games, and time spent with their extended families brought renewed joy into her life.

A woman of deep faith, Elizabeth was a devoted member of several Catholic parishes in Sacramento—St. Anne’s, St. Joseph’s, and Holy Spirit—where she served as a Eucharistic minister. Her spiritual life was central to her identity and guided her actions with grace and humility.

Elizabeth was many things to many people: an athlete in her youth; a passionate gardener who found solace among flowers; a women’s rights activist who championed equality; a family historian who preserved cherished memories; a skilled seamstress; an avid photographer rarely seen without her camera; and an explorer who traveled the world with wonder and delight. Her whimsical love for frogs—both real and collected—added charm to her personality and home.

Her photographs captured not just images but emotions—moments of laughter, milestones of growth, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. These treasured keepsakes now serve as enduring reminders of her generous spirit and zest for living.

Elizabeth is survived by her loving daughters Jeanne Beckley and Julie Johnson; grandchildren Joshua Taekman, Sarah Taekman, Lauren Taekman, Zackery Stehr, and Ellie Stehr; siblings Peter Hodges, Sister Mary Sean (Abbie Hodges), Dorothy Hodges, Kathleen Tyree, Anne Hodges, Paul (Patty) Hodges, Maggie (Don) Wheatley; and sister-in-law Nancy Hodges.

She was preceded in death by her parents Grace and John Hodges; husbands Ronald Beckley and John Mahaney; brother John Hodges; brother-in-law Jerry Tyree; niece Kathe Strand; nephew Mike Hodges; and beloved friend Jean Todd.

Elizabeth Anne “Lizzie” Beckley lived a life rich with purpose, love, laughter, and learning. Her legacy endures in the lives she touched—with every photograph she took, every garden she tended, every student she taught—and most profoundly through the family she cherished so deeply. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her.

A Rosary will be held on August 8th, 2025, from 05:00 PM to 07:00 PM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church 3159 Land Park Drive. Viewing will take place from 5pm-6pm, with the Rosary to follow at 6 pm.

A Funeral Mass will be held on August 9, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church 3159 Land Park Drive. Visitation prior to mass at Holy Spirit 9 am -10 am