Elizabeth Jane Moller
1923-2026
One hundred three and a half Well-Lived Years!
She was sweet, spunky, upbeat, helpful, optimistic, kind, friendly, caring, tough, and a role model, as well as the friend, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother everyone hopes for. She had a way of brightening everyone’s day!
Elizabeth Jane Lindsay was born January 25, 1923, in Newark, New Jersey, the first child of William Taylor and Viola Silvis Lindsay. The family, including younger brother Andrew, moved to Oakland, California in 1926, to be closer to relatives and Bill and Viola’s childhood homes. Elizabeth attended school in Petaluma and Centerville (now Fremont) and graduated from San Jose State University. She was certified as a Registered Nurse in 1945 after training at Los Angeles General Hospital. Elizabeth was a member of the Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II, assisting returning wounded service members including survivors of the Bataan Death March.
On February 23, 1946, Elizabeth married Navy Lieutenant William Peter Moller when he had a short leave from active duty. After many moves around southern California in their first years of marriage, they settled in Long Beach to raise their family. Elizabeth taught nursery school, worked for many years as a nurse at a doctor’s office, and was active in church work. The family traveled the western states, camping, hiking, backpacking, and especially mineral collecting, a frequent family activity.
When they retired, Elizabeth and Bill moved to Santa Barbara—Bill’s hometown—where she became active in the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club and volunteered at Monte Vista Elementary School supporting local children, as her own grandkids lived far away. She also became an active member of the First Presbyterian Church.
The couple enjoyed 62 years together until Bill’s passing in 2007, after which Elizabeth’s focus turned to friends, family, and travel. She was loved in her neighborhood, where she was fondly known as “Grandma Elizabeth,” had frequent visitors, and was included in social gatherings.
Elizabeth lived independently in her own home with help from Senior Helpers to age 1031⁄2 when a fall triggered a series of health setbacks. She died peacefully at Serenity House in Santa Barbara on October 7, 2026, after a long and well-lived life.
Elizabeth is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Carol and Bruce Stewart, son and daughter-in-law David and Robin Moller, grandchildren Mark and James Stewart, Scott, Hayley, and Erik Moller, and great-grandchildren Will, Maddie, Kaylen, and Evan Stewart, and Addison and Ripley Moller.
If she were here today, she would no doubt remind us, “Take care of each other. Do as much as you can with what you have for as long as you can. And no moping!”
