Mary Jeanne "Billee" Shaver Steinruck

Jan. 3, 1923 - Feb. 28, 2012

Our cherished mom and nana passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on February 28, 2012 in Everett, WA. She was 89 years young. Billee was born on January 3, 1923 in Everett, WA to Vivian and Earl Shaver.

She was raised in Seattle, WA and graduated from Broadway High School in 1941. In 1945, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the University of Washington. (Go Dawgs!)

Billee married Bob Steinruck in June of 1946 and they were married for 64 years. They raised their two sons, Tom and Jim, in north Seattle.

She began her teaching career at Aberdeen High School and then taught for many years at St. Alphonsus Catholic School in Ballard and was a teacher and vice principal at St. Luke's Catholic School in Shoreline, WA.

Billee and Bob enjoyed 20 years of retirement in the home they built on Hood Canal. They delighted in the many pleasures provided by the canal, including crabbing, shrimping and cultivating their oyster beds. Much time was spent hosting friends and family and sharing all that Hood Canal life had to offer.

In 2009, Billee and Bob moved to Washington Oakes Retirement Community in Everett. Bob passed away in May of 2010. Billee continued to live an active lifestyle and thoroughly enjoyed her many friends at Washington Oakes.

She was an avid reader and did not let a day go by without completing the New York Times Crossword Puzzle. She had a keen mind, a quick wit and a great sense of humor.

Billee was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her mother and father; her step-father, Ellis "Doc" Lissner; her son, Tom; and her sister, Helen Frischhertz Langeloh.

Nana loved and treasured her family and will be deeply missed by all of us.

She leaves behind her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Dawn Steinruck of Lake Stevens, WA; she was a wonderful nana to Brooke (Ryan) Lundquist, Alicia (Tim) Nygard and Evan Steinruck. She adored her two little great-granddaughters, Delaney and Bailey Lundquist. She also leaves her nephew, Nick Frischhertz; and nieces, Jill (Frischhertz) Patterson and Nancy (Pursifull) Henning.

Billee was a devout Catholic her entire life. Her faith and trust in God brought her great peace.

Services will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 2619 Cedar St., Everett, where Billee was baptized as an infant. A Rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2012. A reception will follow at the Steinruck home in Lake Stevens.

Donations in Billee's honor may be sent to Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County.

Arrangements under the direction of Purdy & Walters with Cassidy Funeral Home, Everett, WA.