Stella Vay Gilligan

Stella Vay Gilligan, 91, passed away Friday, August 14, 2015, after a long illness at Yakima Regional Medical Center in Yakima, WA. Stella was born December 11, 1923, in Mamou, LA., to Elvina (Chapman) Israel and Anatol Israel.

She received her early education in Iowa, LA., was a high school basketball standout, and excelled in academics. Stella graduated as co-salutatorian of her class in 1941 at Iowa High School, Iowa, LA. She met Michael L. Gilligan in Lake Charles, LA., where he was assigned by the U.S. Army. They married on September 22, 1943.

Over the course of her life, Stella worked as a bookkeeper, an early childhood educator at St. Paul Cathedral School, and for a time, ran a catering business in Yakima with a close friend. She met Mike while she was working as an aircraft mechanic on B-25 Bombers, while he was stationed at Lake Charles (Louisiana) Army Air Field. She was deeply devoted to her Catholic faith, and belonged to Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Caruana for 56 years. In 2000 she was honored as Washington state’s Catholic Daughter of the Year.

She loved her own and others’ Southern cooking, traveling, theater, listening to Cajun and Irish music, and visiting with friends and family.

She is survived by her children Shannon (Greg) Seiler of Kirkland, WA; Maureen Gilligan and Kathleen (Dan) Coleman of Spokane, WA; and Kevin (Pamela) Gilligan of Charleston, SC. She is also survived by her beloved sister Ethel Lee Purfeerst of Rockford, IL. Her grandchildren Brandon, Talon and Destry Seiler, Connary and Padraig Gilligan, Madigan Gilligan and Suzanne Voldman also survive her. She was preceded in death by her husband Mike in 2013, her toddler sister Venitta Joyce Eve Israel in 1928, her father Anatol in 1967, her mother Elvina in 1976, and her brother Vernon Lee Israel in 1993.

A Vigil Service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 27, 2015, at Langevin El Paraíso Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, August 28, 2015, at St. Paul Cathedral. Final committal follows at Calvary Cemetery.

The Gilligan Family wishes to thank Sr. Fe Sumalde of Regional’s chaplaincy program, not only for the spiritual and mental support she provided, but for the love she showed our mother. Each time Sr. Fe entered the room, mom’s eyes lit up. Thank you also to the 4 Center staff, and the respiratory therapy team at Regional.

For those who wish to honor Stella’s memory, charitable donations to Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Caruana #906 would be appreciated. Please email [email protected] for information.