Mary Elizabeth Poole; Retired Teacher

Mary Elizabeth Poole, a former teacher who was active in many community organizations, has died at a Woodland Hills hospital. She was 65.

A longtime resident of Granada Hills, Mrs. Poole died Oct. 10 of cancer, said her husband, John Poole.

Born Mary Elizabeth Burfening on Aug. 21, 1925, in Fargo, N. D., she graduated from North Dakota State University and moved to the San Fernando Valley in 1952. In the late 1950s, she began working as a substitute teacher and later taught at Stanford Elementary School in South Gate. She later taught kindergarten at San Fernando Elementary School for two years.

Mrs. Poole was worthy matron of the Granada Hills chapter of the Order of Eastern Star in 1975, president of the Valley University Women in 1988 and director of volunteers at Granada Hills Community Hospital in the late 1980s.

She belonged to several organizations, including the Granada Hills Woman’s Club, the Northridge Woman’s Club, the California Retired Teachers Assn., a social group called the Bombers, the Phi Mu sorority and the Professional Panhellenic Assn., San Fernando Valley chapter.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years; a son, Russell Poole of Naval Air Station Cubi Point, the Philippines; a daughter, Barbara Gaylen of Larkspur, Calif.; a brother, Russ Burfening of Grand Fork, N. D.; a sister, Rita Brouillard of Northridge, and two grandsons.

A funeral was held Sunday, with arrangements handled by Utter-McKinley Mortuary in Mission Hills. Donations can be sent in Mrs. Poole’s name to the American Cancer Society, San Fernando Valley unit.