Elizabeth Michael Pool

Elizabeth Pool Obituary

Elizabeth Pool: March 20, 1940 - March 2, 2025

Elizabeth (Liz) Pool, born on March 20, 1940 in Covington, Kentucky to Morgan and Martha Joyner, passed away on March 2, 2025.

Liz grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1957, her senior year in high school, she moved to California when her dad was transferred by the Post Office to the San Francisco main office. The Joyners moved to their new home in Valley Mar Pacifica, and Liz graduated from Westmoor High School in Daly City. Eventually, she and her family moved to an apartment on Union Street in San Francisco. Liz and her sister, Alice, enjoyed the city in its prime, in the 1950's era with many friends, lots of fun and mischief, where they met their future husbands, roller skating. Liz worked Christmas seasons at Macy's Union Square and took a streetcar to SF State for one year with aspirations to be a registered nurse. She left college to marry Bernie Gidal in September 1959. Bernie was in the Air Force, so they moved around some, even lived a year in Puerto Rico with their first child.

Liz settled in the SF Bay Area for the next 46 years and raised her 3 children. She became very active in school and church activities and went to work outside the home for 32 of those years in the Bay Area. She fulfilled her dream of working in the medical field by becoming a medical bookkeeper. While she didn’t become a nurse, Liz loved working with the doctors and thoroughly enjoyed the medical atmosphere, especially the 22 years of working for a very reputable dermatologist in San Mateo.

Upon retiring in 2005, Liz and her sister went on a celebratory trip to Hawaii. Adjusting to retirement life came easy for her since she LOVED sleeping in. Family being a cornerstone value for Liz, she moved to Rocklin in 2010 to be closer to her 3 children and their families. She adored her 4 grandchildren and fully enjoyed watching them perform in their plays, dance shows, cross-country and track running events, cheerleading, and school activities.

Liz lived a life of travel and adventure. Hawaii was her perfect paradise, and she visited there 6 times: Oahu (3x), Maui (1), Kauai (1), and Big Island of Hawaii (1). She also loved visiting Lake Tahoe, especially during her annual trip to South Lake Tahoe for a week with her sister. Liz loved music, especially Neil Diamond. She loved to talk about the many concerts she went to of his and concerts of some of her other favorites, such as Englebert Humperdinck, Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks, and many more. Orange and black were her colors, as she loved the SF Giants, especially her all time favorite player, Buster Posey. She enjoyed shopping (for hours and hours), walking, reading, going to the library, making fudge during Christmas time, and going to church in San Bruno, at Saint John’s United Church of Christ. She was a member of the church since moving to the Bay Area, where she was active in the Women’s Guild and always enjoyed helping with the Holiday Boutique. She loved visiting Disneyland, from her first visit in 1955 when the park opened to going with her grandchildren decades later. No one appreciated beautiful scenery more than she did, especially sunsets. She loved taking pictures and often referred to herself as “the family photographer,” which she felt was passed down to her after her dad. She was an organizer like no other, especially with her millions of photos she took. Giving was her love language, and her 3 children will always remember the warm thoughtful Christmases she gave them, even when she was on a very tight budget. No matter where they lived, she made a house, a home.

Her family loved her dearly and kept making memories with her even though we knew they would be quickly forgotten by her. We will always cherish those final years with her of enjoying the music events where she lived, dinners at our homes, and even a couple sleepovers. During this time, she loved her children’s pets, meeting her great grandson for the first time, outdoor walks to enjoy the beauty of nature, trips to Bishops Pumpkin Patch in the fall, Starbucks for her Skinny Vanilla Latte, and self care treats, such as manicures and pedicures. Her niece spent every Sunday with her taking her to Bingo, shopping, and out to restaurants, and continued her weekly visits even when Liz became too sick to enjoy those things.

Liz is survived by her daughter Pamela (Thomas) Coulter, son Michael (Connie) Gidal, and daughter Julia (Sergio) Romero; and her grandchildren Justin, Taylor (Dom), Gabriela, and Marisa; and great grandson Jaxx; as well as her niece Lora (Dennis) Aragon. Liz was predeceased by her sister Alice Maroney. She will be deeply missed.

Per your request Mom, Mama, Mommy, Ma, as you consistently said over the years:

“It’s important to me that you three kids always stay close friends.” WE ARE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE! Thank you for the gift of each other. In due time, may we join you for some 1-2-3 and chocolate pudding cake, and roller coaster car rides with Alice and Lora down Dolores Street, and to the Doll House for a 3 wheel bike ride, and to Kentucky, and to San Francisco at Christmas time.

Donations to the Alzheimer's Association, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), or Placer Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) would be greatly appreciated.