Elizabeth "Liz" Christopher

Elizabeth “Liz” O’Hara Christopher of Birmingham, was born June 9, 1941 in Woodland, CA and died September 15, 2020 in Novi. Liz was the only child of Dr. John and Katherine O’Hara, and the granddaughter of Noah Dietrich, chief financial advisor to Howard Hughes for over 30 years. She was class president of Sarah Dix Hamlin High School in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley. Liz loved and adored her three sons and their families – John William (Elizabeth) of Winnetka, IL, David Noah (Wendy) of Atlanta, GA, and Michael O’Hara (Laura) of Farmington Hills, MI. She felt blessed to enjoy a lifelong, sibling-like relationship with her sister-in-law Olga McLaren (Theron) of Houston, TX, and remained close with her beloved nephew, Chris McLaren (Tevia), also of Houston. She was married to William Christopher for 27 years. Liz spent many cherished years in Vienna, VA, where she found wonderful, life-long friends. She enjoyed Bible study through Holy Comforter Church, games of all sorts, volunteering, fundraising and playing tennis, which she continued after the family moved to Michigan in 1977. After her divorce in 1989, Liz demonstrated resilience in starting a career in her late 40s, most notably for 18 years at Metro Detroit’s Common Ground Sanctuary as a crisis counselor, facility manager and annual leader of Art in the Park. Liz was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1998 but continued to work, and enjoy her vibrant and friend-filled life in Birmingham, MI, and more recently at Fox Run Retirement Community where she lived for her last five years. In addition to her sons, Liz is survived by six grandchildren, all of whom treasured their time with Grammy Liz growing up – Caroline, Lily, Vivien, Cole, Jean and Layne. Throughout her life, one of her special gifts was her gentle, caring spirit – to make strangers into friends, to make friends into family. Liz was able to connect with those around her in a profound way which endeared her to everyone she met. Given current Covid-19 restrictions, a Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the future. If desired, contributions may be made in Liz’s memory to her church of more than four decades, Nativity Episcopal Church, 21220 West Fourteen Mile Road, Bloomfield Township, MI 48301 www.nativityepiscopalchurch.org, to Common Ground Crisis Helpline, Attention: Donor Relations, 1410 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 www.commongroundhelps.org/donate, or to the charity of your choice. Cremation arrangements in care of, Jowett Funeral Home, 1634 Lapeer Avenue, Port Huron. Jowett Funeral Home is privileged to assist the family with arrangements. To view the obituary and share memories, please visit www.jowettfuneraldirectors.com

Elizabeth "Liz" Christopher

June 9, 1941 - September 15, 2020