Santa Elizabeth Householder
Santa Elizabeth Householder, 98, of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, passed into eternal rest on May 31, 2025, at Canterbury Center. Born in Hagerstown, Maryland on Jan. 2, 1927, she was a woman of immense strength, devotion, and heart–forever the center of her family’s world.
Santa was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Foster Paul Householder, Sr., and her cherished son, Foster Paul Householder, Jr. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Gina Groh and husband Stephen, and Linda Gildersleeve and husband George; her eight grand-children; and her nine great-grandchildren, each of whom she loved, fed, and spoiled with delight.
A proud graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Hagerstown, Santa spent her life as a homemaker, but she was much more than that–she was a family matriarch whose love showed up in every homemade Italian dish, every tray of cookies, and every warm welcome to those who stopped by.
Her cooking could rival any professional chef’s, but it was her fierce loyalty, sharp wit, and uncompromising honesty that made her unforgettable. She was always quick with an opinion, a meal, or a gentle nudge to sit down and eat–whether you were hungry or not.
Though tiny in stature, she had an outsized personality, a deep devotion to her faith, and a long-running feud with the squirrels in her yard, who never stood a chance.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Strider Funeral Home, Charles Town, WV. A Funeral Mass celebrating her life will take place on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. James the Greater Roman Catholic Church, also in Charles Town. Burial will follow immediately after the service and will be private for immediate family only.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Santa’s memory to St. James the Greater Roman Catholic Church, 49 Crosswinds Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414 a community she loved dearly.
Her legacy of love, family, and food will live on in the hearts–and recipes–of all who knew her.
Please sign her online guestbook at www.mtstrider.com.