Jane Rosena Pingrey (Gaudette, Reid)

Jane's ancestors emigrated from Canada around 1800 to Minnesota.

Her father was Leon Joseph Gaudette 1897-1961 and her mother was Antoinette Marie (Gibeau) Gaudette 1900-1989. They were both born in Minnesota and died in Washington.

Jane was born at home on the farm in Mentor MN on July 26, 1923, though her legal paperwork states that she was born the day before. Her story behind this was that the doctor came to the house before midnight on July 25 and then she came into this world after midnight July 26! Unfortunately, the tired doctor signed the incorrect date on her birth certificate based on the date that he had arrived. It was never an issue, and she always celebrated her birthday on the 26th. Her middle name, Rosena, came from her folks' friend. She looked like her mother, but had her dad's blue eyes. She was the second oldest of five children: Vern, Dean, Barbara and Michael.

Her first memory was at about the age of three and it was moving from MN to Moxee WA.

The family had cats (many, she wrote), she loved swimming and softball as a child, and in High School it was basketball, volleyball and dancing. She wrote that she was an average student and lettered in sports. At Yakima High School, she was in the pep club - class of '41 - called the 41 Peppers! She enjoyed her classmates so much, that many of them were her life long friends.

At 11, she had her tonsils out and hemorrhaged one night with a rush call to the doctor. It took all summer to get her strength back. She attended St. Paul's Catholic school, two blocks away from her home. She always enjoyed Bible stories, comic books and mysteries. She wanted to be a gym teacher or do office work, but college was too expensive at the time.

Her grandparents spoke French, so the kids didn't understand, but she wrote that she was able to catch a word here and there.

Her first job was at S.H. Kress at the candy counter and later as a supervisor. She then worked at the Bon Marche in hosiery, was a waitress at a neighbor's Northgate restaurant, and the job she retired from was with the Seattle School District working in the school cafeteria starting in 1968. This job entailed a variety of skills, but when she retired in 1998, she wore the Baker's hat.

When she was 19, she met Norman Reid on a street corner in Yakima, (we laughed too when she told us) as she was waiting for the bus. He was in town for military training. Their personalities clicked, and she described their courtship as fun, lots of dancing and always busy. At 21, they were married at St. Paul's Rectory in Yakima followed by a reception at her folks' home. That same day they left with Lucille and Doc Reid for Seattle and stayed in the Mayfair Hotel in Seattle. The next day they took the train to Oklahoma City where Norm was stationed at Will Rogers Air Force Base. Later, Norm was transferred to Orlando FL and Seattle was where they finally settled and raised a family. Together they had six children, Steven, Janis, Michele, Denise, Raymond and Rene. Life was good, and very busy with the addition of vacation property at Port Ludlow. She and Norm celebrated their 20th anniversary just before his death about six weeks later.

She volunteered willingly at St. Catherine's school and church both, and teaching P.E. at the school after Norm died kept her quite busy. She was a coach, a Girl Scout Leader, a member of the Parents' Club, and most recently she was an active member and past officer of the American Legion Unit #227.

She kept busy raising us six kids on her own, and her best friend, Phyllis Blum, taught her to drive. Not long after, she purchased her first car - a white, 1962 Chevrolet Impala. Of course with a car, one needs gas and maintenance and it just so happened that she came across a familiar face at a nearby gas station. Carleton Pingrey had graduated from the very same Yakima High School, though he was older than Jane. A courtship followed, and on June 13, 1969 they were married at St. Catherine's Church and Carl's adult children, Michael and Ann (and her family) were added to the family. Jane and Carl worked hard on finishing the 'cabin' at Port Ludlow, and had many good times there. After celebrating 27 years of marriage, Carl died in 1997.

Her last 18 years, she lived independently in her own home until her stroke in January. She was moved from the hospital to rehabilitation at Foss Home & Village in north Seattle, and fought hard for 46 days. She died on March 7, 2015.

She loved people, was helpful, giving, and generous, always looked at the bright side of things and had a great sense of humor. She held to the standard of Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

She is survived by all her children, her two step children, 17 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, one great great grandson, and an extended group of family and friends.

Don't mourn me when I'm gone; I've had a good life! she would say. She was a BIG part of why we all have had good lives as well; SHE was the best gift from God. She was well loved and will be greatly missed.