Regina Gina P Wolf

Regina Wolf was born November 4, 1936 in Mott, North Dakota to Kasper and Julia (Marthaller) Wolf and passed away of natural causes on Monday May 16, 2011 in Seattle, WA. Regina attended St. Vincent's Catholic Elementary and Mott Lincoln High School graduating1956. Her first employment was with friends at the Mott Playhouse Theatre. After graduating Regina started a career in retail, her first experience was at the local clothing shop before moving to Aberdeen, South Dakota where she worked at JC Penney's. Returning to North Dakota, Regina continued her retail career at several shops in Dickinson. She later relocated to the Pacific Northwest settling in Renton, Washington where she continued working and managing several women's apparel shops and Children's Shoeland. All during her life she had the ability to make friends and delighted so many children with her wonderful persona.

Regina left her retail career and began a new experience in the Spare and Small parts packaging section of Boeing from

which she retired in 1998. Regina enjoyed many hobbies; traveling was a major interest, especially national parks taking

numerous photos of the beautiful scenery. She also loved to bowl and enjoyed crafting and collecting owls, stamps and baseball cards.

Regina's latest residence was at Mission Heathcare in Bellevue. She was involved in the resident council and participated in many activities, including socializing which was a natural ability of hers.

She was caring, kind and generous, always ready for a fun time. Regina was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, aunt , cousin and friend. She will be greatly missed.

Survivors include sisters Eva (Preble) Poland of Renton, WA and Dianne (Dale) Pohle of Great falls, MT; nieces Julia (Josh Clements) Poland, Cheryl Lodge, Cynthia (Troy) Bach, Marie Poland, Patty (Nate) Achenbach and Karole (Dan) Callahan; 6 grand nieces and nephews, Derrick, Audrey, Collin, Tristin, Carl and Ella; and many special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Kasper and Julia Wolf.

In Lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to St Anthony Catholic Church,314 S 4th St., Renton, WA 98057 or a Charity of your choice.Arrangements under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton, WA.

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EULOGY of Regina Wolf by Cynthia (Poland) Bach.

Contributions from nieices: Julie Poland, Cheryl (Poland) Lodge, Cynthia (Poland) Bach, Marie Poland, Patty (Pohle) Achenbach, Karole (Pohle) Callahan and sisters, Eva and Dianne.

In death, as in life, there is a lot of love. Today we feel sorrow for the loss of a woman we all loved, but being brought together by love for Regina and from Regina, we can celebrate her life and the person she was. Gina had been in great physical discomfort for several months and with her passing, she has been released from that difficult painful bond.

The void left by Gina's passing is great. We can find comfort in remembering her with joy and happiness, and allowing the sadness to gradually be replaced by peace.

Regina Philipina Wolf, known to most simply as Gina, was generous, kind hearted, creative, caring, adventurous, rebellious and fun. She loved giving gifts and spreading happiness. Her generosity and thoughtfulness was unrivaled and always appreciated.

Regina, Gina, Geena, loving daughter, sister, aunt, playmate and friend. Gina was born the second of three daughters to Julia and Kasper Wolf on November 4, 1936 in Mott, ND. She was a very small baby and slept in a boot box as an infant. Her nickname was "Tiny" until she was school age. Gina's first language was German.

She lived in Mott until shortly after graduating from high school in 1956 when she moved to Aberdeen, SD to begin her long career in retail. She later returned to ND and continued working in retail in Dickinson. In the 1960's a friend of Gina's was a beautician so she became a hair model. She would model different wigs and hair pieces in the popular style of the day and occasionally would model them on her 3 year old niece, Julie.

Gina re-located to the PNW in the late 1960's. She lived with my family for about a year and helped out around the house and with the 4 of us girls. She continued her career in retail, managing several women's apparel shops and Children's Shoeland. While at Children's Shoeland, Gina was a fixture at Southcenter Mall. She loved shopping, whether it was for herself or for the special gift for someone else. She delighted in her work at Shoeland and was the "go to" fitter of children's shoes. It was a treat to watch her interact so naturally with so many different people, all of whom seemed to adore her. From Orange Julius to the Beach Basket, Fredrick and Nelson's Garden Room and especially See's Candies, EVERYONE knew GREENA.

Eventually, Gina left the retail field and began a new job at Boeing. She retired from Boeing in 1998. She took great pride in being a part of such an iconic company.

Gina loved children and was kind and generous, especially to her nieces. There are 6 of us: my cousins, Patty and Karole: myself and my sisters, Julie, Cheryl and Marie. She made each of us feel very, very special. It was always a treat to be invited to Gina's apartment. Her place always seemed so exotic; blow up furniture, burning incense and listening to albums and 8 track tapes. As a child, I remember calling Gina "MY Gina", because I truly belived she was mine. Gina had to gently explain to me that, although I was special, she loved us all equally. There was always enough of Gina's love to go around. My cousins Patty and Karole referred to Gina as their Fairy Godmother. Gina always made sure that her nieces had the latest styles in fashion and shoes. Cheryl received the coolest pair of jeans she'd ever owned from Gina in the 8th grade! We all had sock drawers - that is, a dresser drawer devoted to just socks. I still do. The best word to describe spending time with Aunt Gina was FUN! Gina always had a creative flair. Her handwriting was a prime example of this-cursive writing with curls and q's that curved and swooped, along with the silly and at times poetic phrases she would write. One of my sister Marie's favorites went something like this: "when the moon is out and it's half past three, I'll think of you and you think of me..It's then we'll share a cup of tea..". How fitting that she enjoyed writing rhyming phrases when she had a rhyming name: Regina Philipina.. Regina was social and outgoing and enjoyed countless friends. She had a genuine interest in other people and places. She made friends quite easily. Her deep curiosity about the world and sense of adventure led to many travels with family and friends. Some of her favorites involved road trips to many of our National Parks and Monuments in several states as well as travel to Mexico. Gina loved to play cards and go to the casino. She had a great time visiting Reno, Deadwood and Las Vegas as well as her local favorite, "Muckles". She never won any really big jackpots, but boy did she have fun trying.

In recent years, as Gina's health declined, she needed more assistance with taking care of herself. While she would have preferred it to be different, she accepted it as being necessary. She always made friends and was involved politically and socially in each community she became a part of. I recall her organizing pizza nights and card games and lobbying for social outings to Denny's, Fred Meyer and the casino.

Over the last few months her health declined rapidly. She had the loving support of all her family, especially her sisters, my Mom, Eva and my Aunt Dianne. My mother was incredibly gracious and ever present at her side.

The last few months were a difficult and painful journey, but every single year leading up to those were joyful.

We all can say whole heartedly there are many things we can attribute with gratitude to Gina. The love and experiences we hold dear that we've shared with Gina will never die. May her spirit live long within the hearts of all those she has touched and her open heart will open ours as well.

And, as Gina would say: See you in the movies.....

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Memories of Regina Wolf

by her niece Marie Poland before her passing May 12, 2011 and edited after her passing May 17, 2011

Regina, Regeena, Gina, Geena, sister, daughter, friend, auntie, cousin, one full of play. Seeker of experiences and adventure, one who listens, one who laughs, one who trusts in God and others. A single woman, who remained so, throughout her life. From the outside I have witnessed her experience an acceptance as well as betrayal from the world around her for living the life she chose to live.

Regina had an active imagination and she spoke of things which the rest of us did not see or experience. Although what she said, may or may not have happened, I belive she was sensing something happening underneath the surface...the things that are usually not spoke of. Perhaps it was an emotional cue..perhaps a sense of the presence beyond the physical realm. I believe my Auntie was quite intuitive, and did not have a clear outlet to channel this vast energy she could sense.

My phone hasn't worked right for 6 weeks and I've been encouraged by many people to get a new one...I must admit, I've been more that dragging my feet. As I left Regina's bedside this past Monday, an odd phenomenon happened, my phone began to work. It worked for approximately 18 hours and it's now on the fritz again. I saw this as a reminder that Gina was sending me: to remember to let the unpredictable presence beyond into my life and to open to what is possible beyond what we comprehend on a routine basis. As my memories have been recalled, I know whole heartedly that I can give thanks to my beautiful Aunt Regina for many things I hold dear in my life: An appreciation for hot baths, candle light, Simon & Garfunkel, a funky style in my home, my love for astrology and the esoteric arts, the wisdom of owls, the beauty of red glass chalices she gifted me long ago as well as the moonstone ring. how touching and fun giving and receiving random gifts can be, that having an active imagination is a blessing and to be tempered, and the many things unremembered at this time, yet integrated in my life from her presence.

My mother reminded me and it became apparent that Gina had been in a great deal of physical discomfort in the past few years, and it's for that reason I am grateful for her passing at this time..

No matter what your religious or spiritual belief system, may you always know that the love and dear experiences that you have shared with Regina will never die. May the spirit of Regina live long within the hearts of those she has touched. May she rest in deep peace.

Hear is a song, it is one of my favorites to honor those passing from the body into the realm of the Spirit. As Aunt Dianne, my mother Eva, my sister Cynthia and I were at her bedside, she took her last breath as I sang these words...

Stand tall by the water......Know no fear of loneliness.....Let this love cross you over....Let this song bid you well.

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