ELIZABETH SCHELLER TAX
Elizabeth “Liz” Scheller Tax was born October 11, 1936, to Josef and Maria Scheller in Bakonyjákó, a village in Veszprém County, Hungary. She passed away on Sunday the 27th of December exactly as she hoped she would, in the comfort of her own home. She suffered many strokes since December of 2018 and during the months leading to her death, she was constantly cared for by one or more of her adult children.
Elizabeth witnessed the Russian and German occupation of her village in WWII and fled Hungary with her husband, Michael, and their fourteen-month-old son, Zoltan when the Hungarian Revolution broke out in October of 1956. Until they were able to obtain sponsorship in order to immigrate to the United States the young family spent time in a refugee camp in Austria. They transferred to Hamburg, Germany where they boarded a ship to the United States in December 1956 and lived on the east coast for twenty-three years before moving to the San Joaquin Valley of CA in 1979.
Liz was best known for her radiant smile. She never met a stranger and was a tireless worker with seemingly boundless energy who never complained that the task was too great. Elizabeth could tackle most any project from needlepoint to pruning her grapes and always found time to care for others. She loved her Catholic faith and believed that as long as you loved God, prayed fervently, and attended mass the Lord would handle the rest.
She enjoyed her vegetable garden, her roses, and tending her vineyard. Elizabeth was a fabulous cook, in fact, her chicken paprikash, dumplings, and cucumber salad should have won awards. Elizabeth was most famous for her homemade baked goods, especially her cookies. For many years Liz worked as a cook at the Live Oak Elementary School in Lodi where the students and teachers benefited from her culinary skills.
Elizabeth will be lovingly remembered by her close friends and all who mourn her passing. In addition to her parents and brother, Vendel Scheller, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Michael Tax in 2015. Liz is survived by her five children, Zoltan and his wife Elena of White Plains NY, Michael and his wife Lynn of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Marianne and her husband, David Panoff of Hilo, HI, Joseph and his wife Debi of Lincoln, CA, and Peter of Acampo, CA; fifteen grandchildren; eight greatgrandchildren; nieces, and nephews.
Due to COVID 19, A Mass of Christian Burial will be held privately at St. Joachim Catholic Church followed by interment at St. Joachim Cemetery. The Tax family requests that no flowers are sent instead that an act of kindness is shown to others in honor of Elizabeth’s good works during her earthly life. Mass cards may be obtained or memorial donations in Elizabeth’s name may be made to St. Joachim Catholic Church, 13392 Lockeford Ranch Dr., Lockeford, CA 95237. Collins Family Funeral Home. 123 N School St. Lodi, CA 95240 is in charge of arrangements.
Please sign the guest book at lodinews.com/guestbook.