Elizabeth Jane (Tierney) Niland

October 31, 1923 - November 11, 2022

Betty Niland died on November 11, 2022, a few days after her 99th birthday. Born and raised in San Francisco and proudly Irish, Betty and her sister Marge were the daughters of Joseph and Margaret Tierney and grew up across the street from St. Cecilia church on 17th Avenue. Betty attended St. Cecilia School, Presentation High School, and earned a B.A. and teaching credential from U.C. Berkeley during World War II.

In her early teaching career Betty taught for extended periods in Hawaii and Alaska. She returned to San Francisco where she met and eventually married Bill Niland on Valentine’s Day 1953. After marriage, Betty and Bill lived in San Francisco. Over the next decade they moved to Coalinga, Berkeley, and Walnut Creek and had 4 children. Betty was one of the first working moms in the 60’s. She taught high school math at Hayward High and later was a math tutor. She was a long-time member of AAUW and volunteered for a suicide prevention hotline in retirement.

Betty had astounding patience and calm with her kids and grandkids. There was a sense she always knew we would find our paths and would grow up to be decent people. While she was loving, she was also tough. Her life was not always easy. While she was willing to listen to our troubles, there was always a sense that if you got knocked down, you got back up; that failure happens, and that being engaged in life is not always easy.

Betty and Bill were married for 41 years until Bill’s death in 1994. Betty’s sister Marge died in 2017. Betty had many lifelong friends including the women she went to high school and college with, and her tennis and bridge partners. She was outgoing and enjoyed meeting new people. She liked entertaining and understood the most meaningful moments in life are the ones shared with family and friends. She loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor. She also had a fundamental belief that you actively participate in your community either through church, school, or service agencies and that you help those less fortunate. She understood that every day is a gift; stay engaged, stay active, no whining. She set a great example for all of us. She lived a long and remarkable life and will be missed.

Betty is survived by her children Ann (Mark), Martha (Roger), Joe (Cindy), and Bill (Sarah), grandchildren Kate (Cory), Eileen (Michael), Tierney (Corey), Riley, Patrick, Asa (Julie), Erin (John) and Keegan (Amanda) and by great-grandchildren Lucy, Roy, Delaney, Ada, Maeve, Finley, and Iris.

The family would like to thank Betty’s primary caregiver Sela Soane for her kindness, skill, and care. Donations may be made to the William P. Niland Memorial Scholarship Fund at DVC, the St. Mary’s Alumni Scholarship Fund, or any charity. A memorial will be held later.