Joan Kathryn Sizer Gomersall

With overwhelming love, the family of Joan Sizer Gomersall announces her death, passing away peacefully at the age of 89 while surrounded by her family.
Joan Sizer Gomersall was born July 18, 1935, in Cleveland Ohio and died on May 5, 2025, at her home in Saratoga, California. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Joan grew up in Ohio, spending most of her life in Willoughby on Lake Erie. She attended Andrews Institute for Girls boarding school, followed by attendance at Western Reserve (later becoming Case-Western Reserve University), graduating with a BS in Education. She later went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Education from International University with time at Cambridge University.
A teacher of second and third graders at Resurrection and Most Holy Trinity Catholic Schools for most of her life, Joan also gave her time to tutor children in reading and writing. a dedication that kept her in her former students' memories for years after the classroom.
A lover of travel, she brought her experiences into the classroom, fostering a broad world view in her students. This same love she instilled in her children and grandchildren, taking them on trips to faraway places. Her journals and scrapbooks memorialize her adventures to almost every continent-due to an unfortunate inclination to seasickness, Antarctica remained elusive. More localized and weekly trips to the beach imparted a love of the ocean for both her own children and those children in the neighborhood she would gladly welcome along.
As member and former president of Saratoga Sister City and avid supporter of the Saratoga Historical and Hakone Foundations, she frequently traveled to Muko City, Japan to further the relationship between the two cities. Her fondness for Japanese culture extended to playing with Saratoga Taiko where she would perform for events in both Japan and around the Bay Area.
As a member of the Foothill Club, and also serving on the Heritage Preservation Commission of the City of Saratoga, she helped provide guidance regarding the preservation of historic structures, including successfully working to place Hakone Gardens on the National Register for Historical Places. Her leadership also led to her receiving a commendation for her intellect and passion for the topic. She also spent time as a docent at the Saratoga Historical Park and Museum, often dressing in period costume. Her membership in the Young Ladies Institute at Sacred Heart kept alive her commitment to service in her community.
We are fortunate for the years she spent attending the Senior Center Memoirs Class where she wrote volumes on her life experiences for us to enjoy. Along with writing, Joan was an avid painter, her favorite subjects included the many barns she encountered on her travels. Her love for antiques followed her everywhere and she enjoyed the years she spent as owner of a boutique antique store.
Joan will be missed by both her family and friends who enjoyed her company over the years. I think it is also her pies that everyone will miss, especially the lemon meringue!
Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Edward William Gomersall, brother, Tom Sizer of Mentor Ohio, and parents, Mary (née Blaha) and William Sizer of Willoughby Ohio.
She is survived by her children Susan (Kevin) of Ft. Collins, CO, Janice (Kevin) of Missoula, MT, Jennifer (Mark) of Portland, OR, Edson (Amy) of Chico, CA, Joan Marie (Mark) of Merced, CA, Tim (Dawn) of Eureka, CA, and John (Julie) of Wahiawa, HI.
She is also survived by her 18 grandchildren Kaise, Jessa, Colleen, Erin, Brendan, Peter, Nicholas, Grace, Brianna, Anastasia, Colin, Joshua, Chase, Benjamin, Wesley, Anna, Mia, and Colt, as well as step-grandson, Jake, along with 8 great-grandchildren Peyton, Jaxon, Maddox, Ashlyn, Augustus, Alexander, Charlotte, Malakai, and one on the way.
Funeral arrangements are by Darling and Fischer Funeral home in Los Gatos, funeral mass/celebration of life will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Saratoga, May 15th at 11am, with reception immediately following in Sacred Heart Social Hall. Burial will be with her husband, Edward, at Madronia Cemetery, in Saratoga.