Elizabeth Hoover

Elizabeth Ann Hoover (née Dohrn) February 16, 1949 – June 24, 2025

Elizabeth Ann Hoover, lovingly known as Liz to many, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025, in Gahanna, Ohio. She was 76 years old. Born on February 16, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, Elizabeth's life was one of remarkable strength, warmth, and transformation. Though her early years were marked by hardship and adversity — including a childhood shaped by trauma — Elizabeth rose from those beginnings with fierce determination to protect and nurture those she loved. As the eldest of four siblings, she often stepped into the role of caretaker early on, protecting her mother and younger sisters during turbulent times. This deeply rooted protective instinct shaped who she became — a mother, a grandmother, and a woman who devoted herself to building the kind of family life she never had.

Elizabeth fiercely loved her children and grandchildren. She had a huge heart that she wore openly, and her deep compassion often came with a need to protect, to worry, and to love with every ounce of her being. She raised four strong, capable children — and in doing so, helped shift the trajectory of generations. She believed in giving her children the life she never had: safe, special, supported, and filled with possibility.

She is survived by her husband and dear friend, Joseph Hoover, with whom she shared a long life, deep connection, and decades of memories — even after separating in later years. She is also survived by her beloved children: Suzanne Legg (Ronald), Amy Delpozo, Lisa Hoover, and Ryan Hoover. Elizabeth's legacy continues through her cherished grandchildren: Joseph Strapp, Ciara Wilber (Christopher), Joshua Hubbard, Paige Hubbard, and Bardot Hoover, and her adored great-grandchildren: Rylee Hubbard, Makayla Wilber, Laura Wilber, and Zakiah Hubbard. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Anna "Mimi" Cramer (Bill), and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother Betty Morris (née Linley), her stepfather Clarence "Jack" Morris, her sisters Nanci Biggerstaff and Constance "Connie" Odom, and her brother-in-law David Odom.

Elizabeth had a magnetic presence — long, flowing blonde hair set perfectly by hot rollers, a full face of makeup, and elegant dresses that always seemed straight out of a fashion magazine. She was often told she looked like royalty or a movie star — and when she volunteered at her children's school, classmates whispered in awe. Her style, grace, and glamour made her unforgettable.

But her beauty was more than surface — it was in the way she made holidays feel like magic. Christmas was her masterpiece. Every year, her children and grandchildren gathered for a cookie marathon, baking batch after batch of treats to give to neighbors and loved ones. Her "pecan tarts" — famously made with walnuts — became a holiday legend. Her home was decorated inside and out with dazzling detail: blue lights and wreaths on every window, perfectly spaced ornaments on the "fancy tree" in the front window, and a family tree filled with handmade decorations in the living room. She hosted legendary Christmas Eve parties — potlucks filled with laughter, music, holiday movies on VHS, and excited children opening presents. Later, everyone gathered around the TV to watch the Santa Tracker before bundling little ones off to bed. These traditions, inherited from her mother Betty, now live on in her children and grandchildren — not because of gifts, but because of the feeling: connection, warmth, safety, and joy.

Elizabeth was a passionate Elvis Presley fan — even naming her daughter Lisa Marie after the King's own daughter. Family road trips to Myrtle Beach were marked by Elvis playing nonstop, with Lisa counting down the hours in "Elvis songs" instead of minutes. Elizabeth even saw Elvis perform live and kept one of his scarves — a cherished memory. In later years, she relived that joy at Elvis impersonator concerts, dancing, cheering, and laughing as she was handed scarves and kisses from the stage.

Myrtle Beach became the family's sacred vacation spot. Year after year, they stayed at the same hotel, made the same joyful memories — pool days, beach walks, carnival nights, and dinners out. Elizabeth created a paradise there, and even today, her children and grandchildren return to relive those sun-drenched memories.

She was an active, involved mom — enrolling her kids in sports, scouts, dance, music, and more. She valued education, practice, and preparation. Lisa remembers sitting with her parents to rehearse school presentations, encouraged to give her best. Their home was warm and full — with a backyard pool, a deck for big family BBQs, and a garden that today inspires her children and grandchildren to grow their own food. Gardening, for Elizabeth, was a form of nurturing. And even now, when a cardinal visits the feeder or a butterfly gently lands nearby, her family feels her presence — watching, loving, guiding.

In her later years, Elizabeth was a devoted grandmother. Her love for her grandchildren knew no bounds. She adored spending time with them — dancing, baking, sharing stories, and cheering on their achievements. On the day Elizabeth passed, Bardot — just six years old — shared something that brought the entire family comfort: "Grandma came and put her hand on your arm, Mommy. She said, ‘I'm taking your pain to heaven with me so you can have a wonderful rest of your life.'" Whether you believe in angels or not, Elizabeth believed. And her family does too. She is now reunited with her beloved mother and sisters — watching over all of them. Their guardian angel, present in every memory, every Christmas cookie, every Elvis song, every bloom in the garden. Elizabeth's story is proof that love can overcome. That the cycle can be broken. That even with pain in our past, we can choose to create beauty, safety, joy, and belonging. Her life — complex and courageous — is a testament to what it means to protect, to heal, and to love.

Elizabeth's deep compassion extended to animals of all kinds. Throughout her life, she found joy in feeding birds and squirrels, caring for dogs, and — especially in her later years — devoting herself to the wellbeing of cats.

Alongside her son Ryan, she fostered countless kittens, sought medical care for strays, and lovingly rehomed cats in need. At the time of her passing, she and Ryan proudly cared for eight cats, including a once-feral cat who became fully domesticated through love and patience.

Her devotion to animal welfare is the reason the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Elizabeth's name to Angels Assisting Felines, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) feline rescue organization located in Blacklick, Ohio.

A celebration of life will be organized in the months to come. Once arrangements are made, the family will share details and reach out to friends and loved ones. It will be a time to gather in Elizabeth's memory — to share stories, laugh, cry, and find comfort in one another through the connection she inspired.

To Honor Elizabeth's Love of Animals: Donations in her name can be made to Angels Assisting Felines via the QR code in photos.

Donations can be made directly via venmo to: @Angels-Assisting-Felines1

Angels Assisting Felines Website:
https://angelsassistingfelines.com/you-can-help