In 1885, she founded and chaired the first national women's organization in Switzerland, Schweizer Frauen-Verband.

Honegger's husband was a newspaper publisher and around 1878 Elise edited the women's supplement of his publication Republikaners.

Soon thereafter she divorced from her husband, taking employment as a freelance publisher and editor.

The magazine was commercially successful, focusing on the role of wives and mothers (häusl).

[2] She kept publishing her newspaper, selling it in 1911, remaining as editor almost until her death on 14 November 1912 in St.