Elise van Biema was divorced. She had 4 children, 3 girls and 1 boy, born between 1924 and 1931. The last two children were born in Paris.
Elise was secretary of the "Comité tot invrijstelling van gearresteerde politieke emigranten" and also head of the clothing department of the "Comité ter behartiging van de belangen der Nederlanders uit de Internationale Brigade".