Elizabeth (Batt) Kelleher

Elizabeth (Batt) Kelleher filled every room she entered with beauty, warmth, and an unmistakable Irish grace. She passed away peacefully at home in San Rafael, CA, on April 5, 2026, surrounded by love. Until her final days, she faced her illness the way she faced everything in life — with fierce determination, deep faith, and an insistence on showing up fully for the people she loved. She was the beloved widow of Andrew Patrick Kelleher, and is now reunited with him and with her daughter Eimear, whom she loved every day of her life.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, to Marcella and William Batt, Elizabeth carried her Irish heritage with her always — in her hospitality, her humor, and her heart. She made her life in California, but Ireland never left her, and she kept two homes in her heart until the very end. A travel agent with a genuine love for exploring the world, her greatest gift was closer to home: creating spaces — and moments — of extraordinary beauty and peace for everyone around her. She put care into everything she did, and into every person who mattered to her.

That gift expressed itself in everything she touched — her thoughtfully chosen attire, her beautifully kept home, and the legendary green thumb that made flowers and plants thrive wherever she went. Her St. Raphael's community knew this well. For years she devoted herself to her parish, most proudly arranging the altar flowers and caring for the church linens. She didn't wear her faith loudly; she lived it daily — attending mass regularly, and joining online when illness kept her away, so that not a single day would pass without that connection. Her faith was the foundation she stood on in good times and hard ones alike.

Elizabeth carried the losses of her daughter Eimear and husband Andrew with quiet grace. She was a devoted caregiver, guardian, and advocate to her family, and that same outward devotion defined everything — her work with St. Vincent de Paul, her generosity to those in need, and the way she met her own illness head-on: researching, advocating for herself, refusing to give up. Each morning she got up, got dressed, and got moving — tending her garden, meeting friends, volunteering, and being present with her grandchildren even on her hardest days. Fiercely independent and deeply thoughtful, she never wanted to be a burden to anyone, even as she gave everything she had to the people around her.

Her grandchildren — Connor, Dara, and Brennan — were among her greatest joys. She was a faithful presence on every sideline, at every celebration, in every moment that mattered to them — right up until the end, setting aside whatever she was carrying so that they would only feel her love. The devotion she poured into those three will shape who they become for the rest of their lives, and that may be her most enduring legacy.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Patrick Kelleher (d. 2009); her daughter, Eimear Kelleher (d. 1985); her parents, Marcella and William Batt; her siblings, Angela O'Connor and John Batt; and her in-laws, Andrew and Julia Kelleher.

She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Lewis (née Kelleher), and son-in-law, Mark Lewis; her grandchildren, Connor, Dara, and Brennan; and her siblings, Paula Condon, Lucinda Batt, Miriam Molan, and Billy Batt. She will be deeply missed by her in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and her cherished St. Raphael's sisterhood: Beverly, Midge, Alrene, Kathleen, Elva, and Judith.

Services will be held on Monday, April 13th, 2026, at 11 a.m. at St. Raphael's Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elizabeth's name to the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Raphael's Church or Hospice by the Bay.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Kaiser Hospital — most notably Dr. L. Kim, Dr. A. Calvillo, and Dr. R. Damien — the nurses and staff at Hospice by the Bay, and to their supportive family and friends near and far

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