Elvira Veeder

October 27, 1922 – September 12, 2012

Mom was born in Sequim, Washington to Albert and Lina Bertotti-immigrants from Switzerland. Mom’s parents were farmers who then moved to Redmond, WA. As an only child, she bore a lot of the responsibility that went with the running of the Bertolli Dairy. The Dairy was a Darigold award-winning farm.

Mom attended Redmond schools and spent her last year at the Broadway High School in Seattle. She continued to attend the Redmond alumni yearly get-togethers to the end. While at Redmond High School, she met and fell in love with her soulmate and lifelong companion, James R. Veeder. They were married January 12, 1942. Dad’s parents, Lon and Clara Veeder had a raspberry and strawberry farm on Union Hill. We remember years of poker games, laughter and home-cooked meals in the small Veeder house. There were weely gatherings of Dad’s parents, his three sisters, their spouses and children. The cigarette smoke was thick as they laughed away the night.

Mom worked at Boeing as a Rosy Riveter during WWII early in her marriage. But she then chose to stay home with her daughter Lonnie and son James Anthony. She and Dad bought a motel on Highway 99 in Midway, WA. They named it the Hemlock Motel. She bore the main responsibility of managing the motel while Dad worked at Boeing and ran his asphalt company. There were 12 units and a small café. She did it all without any outside help.

Five years later, the motel was sold and Mom and Dad moved to a home on Greenlake. They embraced the Catholic faith and were blessed with three more sons – John, Kurt and Matt.

Being a high energy lady, Mom began writing her memoirs of the motel. She did this while watching three toddlers and getting Dad off to work at 5:00AM in the morning. She wrote into the wee hours of the morning. This book was never published.

She then became a Bestline Distributor of cleaning products and instead of working her way up, she started at the top. This meant that the company sent her a full truckload of product. It was stored in every room of the house and Dad was not happy about this. Even though she was able to sell much of the product, there still is some left- and Mom never heard the end of this venture! Undeterred, she became a SlimGym saleswoman. She would demonstrate this exerciser to all she met-including two linemen up a telephone pole. She jumped out of her call, pulled out the SlimGym and proceeded to use it-we don’t know if they bought one or not!

When Matt was 14, Mom, Dad and Matt moved to Conconully, WA where they enjoyed hunting, fishing, looking for treasures at old abandoned dumps and attending Matt’s baseball games.

Mom and Dad had a massive garden and Mom was totally into healthy eating. She won two recipe contests during that time. She couldn’t abide the times that Dad would sneak out to grab an Arco burger and he got what-for when caught. Mom and Dad enjoyed many trips to Las Vegas, Reno and other casinos. They always were waiting to hit the BIG ONE!

Their next move was to Wenatchee and then on to the Hearthstone where they resided for the last 10 years. Mom devoted herself to caring for Dad much of that time as his health deteriorated. When Dad passed away in 2006, Mom bravely carried on alone, but she hated being separated from Dad. This Wednesday She peacefully breathed her last breath while surrounded by family and then moved on to join our Dad.

Mom will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her work ethic, her pride, her advice to us, her stylish way of dressing and as a woman who never let the house without looking impeccable.

Besides her daughter and 4 sons, she is survived by eleven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and sister-in-law, Vicky Moriarty. She will also be missed by her’s and Dad’s loving caretaker and friend of ten years, Lota Guanzon.

A Graveside Serice will be held at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park in Redmond, Washington on September, 15, 2012 at 11:00AM.