Margaret Tiffany "Monnie" Calfee

On December 5th, 2025, Margaret Tiffany “Monnie” Calfee arrived in Heaven correcting everyone’s grammar. She passed away surrounded by her five daughters. Born June 28, 1940, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Virginia Webb and Herbert Chassee Tiffany, Monnie was the fourth of five children. She grew up in Phoenix on Pierson Street near St. Francis Church and remained deeply connected to cherished childhood friends throughout her 85 years.

Monnie graduated from Xavier College Preparatory in 1958 where, as she often reminded us, she was student body president, and she graduated from Arizona State University in 1962. On October 26, 1963, she married Robert Martin Calfee, III. As a newlywed, Monnie lived with her husband in Chagrin Falls, OH, and in Hayward, CA, before returning to Phoenix in 1968 where she raised her five daughters. She lived a life of fun and adventure, including motorcycle trips through Europe, football games for her beloved ASU Sun Devils, traveling with friends and family, spending time at her home in Montana, and spending summers in Laguna Beach.

A devout Catholic, Monnie served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Francis Church. She volunteered with countless charities and causes, giving freely of her time, faith, and toffee. She loved her weekly bridge games with friends, playing closed hands in mahjong, and reminding her daughters to “stand up straight” – both literally and morally. She believed in good manners, good grammar, and good hearts. Monnie remembered everyone’s birthday (we loved when she learned how to use Venmo), wedding anniversary, and the anniversaries of the passings of loved ones, and she always reached out to those who needed a friend. She was a fabulous mother to her five daughters and a pillar of support to anyone who needed one.

In Heaven, she will be greeted by her husband of 62 years, Martin, her parents, and her brother Herb Tiffany. They’ll no doubt be waiting with open arms—and hopefully a Black Cherry White Claw. Monnie’s legacy of faith, humor, kindness, and generosity lives on in everyone lucky enough to have known her. We will all miss everything about her – except her cooking.

Monnie is survived by her siblings Ginny Tiffany Sweeney, Mike Tiffany, Jane Tiffany Duffy; five devoted daughters, Elizabeth Chatfield Licosati (David), Virginia Tiffany Calfee, Sarah Jane Shannon (John), Robin Martin LeFevre (Greg), Cinco Calfee Sorrow (Chris); and nine grandchildren who adored their Gaga, Margaret Chatfield Licosati, Gennaro Martin Licosati, Anthony David Licosati, Thomas Owen LeFevre, Sullivan Martin Shannon, Isabel Virginia Licosati, Sarah Ruth LeFevre, Elizabeth Tinker Shannon, and Virginia Tyler Sorrow.

A private family service was held on Sunday, December 7th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, 4715 N Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012 (www.sfxphx.org/onlinegiving). And, please visit Monnie’s favorite Mexican food restaurant in Phoenix, Via Delosantos, and toast to her wonderful life with a margarita (on the rocks, no salt) and leave a big tip, preferably in cash.