With deep love and gratitude for a life well lived, the family of Elizabeth Detloff O'Brien, 93, announces her passing on March 15, 2026, at Meritus Medical Center, in Hagerstown, MD.  Liz was born on November 4, 1932, in Detroit, MI, to Ervin Charles Detloff and Clara Rita Klosowski.

Liz was a graduate of the University of Detroit. Liz's early career was as an executive secretary in Washington, DC. Liz was known to ride her bicycle all over the city, in and out of traffic, to get to wherever she needed to go.

While dating a university classmate, Liz was introduced to James O'Brien, a handsome and charming bachelor from NH, and immediately fell in love. They were soon married in DC and remained inseparable until Jim's passing in 2009.

Among their closest family members were Mary and Margaret O'Brien, Jim's identical twin sisters. Liz and the twins became an incomparable threesome with Jim happily escorting them on every adventure, including annual trips to visit family in Michigan, Tennessee and New Hampshire. Liz and Jim were owners of the American Aluminum Company, Washington, DC, for many years. Family lore includes stories of how their company supplied screens for the US Pentagon building.

Upon retirement, Liz and Jim moved to Hagerstown, MD., with the twins following along and settling nearby. Liz was thrilled to have a home and yard to show off her exceptional gardening skills. Liz's talents were remarkable. She was a gifted quilter, having won more than one quilting show. She sewed and donated over 1,000 mini-quilts for children in hospitals, notably Johns Hopkins Hospital. Nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and children of friends regularly received her amazing creations that were always birthday or holiday themed. Liz was a talented acrylic painter as well. Liz was known as a yard sale devotee, finding many treasures and trinkets along the way. She read hundreds of books every year (not uncommon for her to have read 3-4 in one week) and she was an incredible baker. Liz regularly baked cookies and muffins for neighbors and friends. Best of all, Liz was a kind, generous, loving person to all who came within her orbit. She will be greatly missed and always remembered with warm smiles.

Liz was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Rosemary and Clarabelle Detloff, her husband James E. O'Brien, sisters-in-law Mary and Margaret O'Brien, and Evelyn O'Brien Kiernan (John).

She is survived by her brother Paul Detloff, TN, and Helen Anne O'Neill, CA, and many close nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

A special thank you to neighbors Lynn and David Moats, Nancy and Bob Peltier and Tina and Dave Bravo, whom Liz was lovingly able to lean on when needed. Also special thanks to the staff at the Smithsburg Library, who embraced Liz as family. Liz was a devout Catholic and communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hagerstown.

There will be a private neighborhood gathering for Liz in Hagerstown, followed by a funeral mass and graveside services in May, in New London, NH, where Liz will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Jim, and her sisters-in-law, Mary, Margaret and Evelyn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Quilts for Kids Hagerstown Chapter, 483 Shannon Dr, North Greencastle, PA 17225, in care of Carol Schwalm (717-597-9408).