Elizabeth A. Loncki, age 23, made the ultimate sacrifice in service to her country on Jan. 7, 2007, near Al Mahmudi-Yah, Iraq. She was the stepdaughter of Christine Loncki of I.D. Griffith Inc., Wilmington, Del.

Elizabeth was a Senior Airman of the Air Force Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD).

She was a 1998 graduate of St. Peter Elementary School, a 2001 graduate of Padua Academy and attended Arizona State University prior joining the armed forces.

She enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in March 2003 and graduated from Naval Tech Explosive Ordinance Disposal School in February 2004. She was stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Utah before deploying to Iraq in September 2006.

“I had the privilege of being Elizabeth’s company. She was involved in extreme combat training and the highest danger. She saved a lot of lives. I repeat a lot of lives … Bar none, she was one of the finest people that I have ever trained,” said a Sgt. Major who had been instrumental in Elizabeth’s training.

Elizabeth is survived by her father and stepmother, Stephan and Christine Loncki, of New Castle, Del., her sister Olivia and numerous family members.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church on Saturday, Jan. 13. Interment followed at the Delaware Veterans Cemetery in Bear, Del.

Contributions may be made to the Helen Graham Cancer Center, 4701 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19713 or the St. Peter’s Workforce, 521 Harmony St., New Castle, DE 19720.

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