Elizabeth Louise Travers

Elizabeth passed away peacefully on September 9, 2023 at the Vi in Palo Alto. She was born in Cleveland Ohio on July 13, 1931, the youngest of the four children of Rosemary and Walter Orey. When she was a young girl the family moved to the Fruitvale District in Oakland where they were part of the German-American community of St Elizabeth’s. In 1952 she earned her nursing diploma as a member of the third graduating class of Kaiser Permanente School of Nursing. After graduation Elizabeth moved to Rome where she worked caring for hospitalized American soldiers. During that time she developed a love of travel and her adventurous spirit led her climb the Matterhorn. Shortly after her return to California, Elizabeth met her husband, Jean. They wed at Old St. Mary’s Church in San Francisco on St Patrick’s Day in 1955. With four children, they settled in Redwood City where she was an active member of the community. During the 1960s, Elizabeth and Jean protested the shipping of napalm from the Port of RC, and were part of Save the Bay, Committee for Green Foothills and the Sierra Club. After all of the children were in school Elizabeth went to college, first at Canada College before graduating from UCSF with a BS in Nursing with Honors. She worked as a public health nurse in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties for many years. All the while, she maintained a beautiful home and garden. After retirement she studied interior design at Canada College then worked as a kitchen and bath designer. Her love of gardening led her to become a docent at Filoli for ten years, leading tours for school children. Already an accomplished watercolorist, she pursued training in botanical art. Her family meant the world to her and she loved to plan trips that would bring them together. Elizabeth organized trips to Hawaii and Europe with each of her children and grandchildren. At age 75, she celebrated by bringing the family together for a two week trip to the south of France. Elizabeth moved to the Vi at age 80, living independently until last fall when she moved to the Memory Support Unit. Her family is grateful for the excellent care provided over the last year by the staff of the Vi Memory Support and Sutter Hospice. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jean Travers, parents, Rose and Walter Orey, and siblings Lillian Orey Blank, Walter Orey, and Jeanne Orey Abbott. She leaves her children Libby Hagman (Roger), Patrick Travers (Maggie Rogers), Paula Travers, and Nancy Travers (Larry Bucka), her beloved grandchildren Alexandra (John), Catie Rose (Martin), Tom, and Oliver, and great-grandchildren Jack, Jeanne, and Clara. We remember a woman with a great sense of adventure, independence, and an indomitable spirit. She was a cherished wife and proud mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. A celebration of life was held at St. Raymond Church in Menlo Park, CA. In lieu of flowers, you can make contributions to the Notre Dame High School Scholarship Fund in Belmont, CA, in memory of Elizabeth Travers.

Elizabeth Louise Travers

July 13, 1931 - September 9, 2023