Great-grandmother, proud Catholic, volunteer, traveler

Elizabeth Ann (Whitcomb) Ambord died peacefully on April 4.

Elizabeth was born August 3, 1933, in Norfolk, Nebraska to parents Donald Cameron and Loretta Serena Whitcomb. At the age of 5, she and her family moved to California, settling in North Hollywood. A lifelong film lover, she would often reminisce about the Hollywood stars she saw at Mass at her childhood parish. She attended St. Charles Borromeo School and graduated from Corvallis High School (Class of 1951).

While working on her associate’s degree at Valley Junior College she met Walter “Walt” Ambord whom she would marry in 1952. Together they had four children Loretta (Loree), Mark, Julie, and Deborah (Debbie).

In 1960, the family moved to Claremont. She was an active member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church for 63 years. Her children attended the OLA Parish School where she was a room mother and volunteer. She was involved in the Catholic family movement where she made many lifelong friends and was part of the first planning committee for OLA’s annual Fiesta. She was also a member of the Claremont Faculty Association and Campus Women’s Association and a supporter of Pomona College and its athletics programs. Throughout her later life she also volunteered at the Claremont Economy Shop.

She enjoyed traveling to exotic locations such as Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Turkey, France, Canada, China, and Mexico. She was an avid bridge player and gardener and transformed her patio garden into a personal oasis. She loved the arts, dance, music, and movies — taking pleasure in local performances, weekly films at the Laemmle, and season tickets to the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Her life was further enriched by the fellowship and friendships she found as a friend of Bill W. for more than 40 years.

She was predeceased by her brother James Whitcomb; son Mark Ambord; and grandson Nicholas Doan.

She is survived by her children Loree Doan, Julie Ambord, Debbie Foster, and Kathleen Noonan; grandchildren Ryan Doan (Amy), Daniel Ambord, Caitlin Peterson (Aaron), Kirsten McCullers (Scott), Kiley Nackerud (Michael), Paige Ambord, and Shane Foster; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews, of whom she loved dearly.

A rosary will be held at 10 a.m., followed by a celebration of life Mass at 10:30, on Monday, June 5 at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, 435 N. Berkeley Ave., Claremont 91711.