Vera Mary Lanik

Our dear sweet Mom, Vera Mary Lanik, passed away last Thursday, July 19, 2018 at Fieldstone Memory Care in Yakima. She was born in Sioux City, Iowa on October 24, 1924, and was the youngest of six children. Her parents, Gus and Mary Pelela, were both born in Russia. Growing up during the Depression and her family circumstances greatly shaped Mom's character and personality. She treasured her friends and family members who helped her through those trying times.

Mom cared for her own mother, who was bedridden, from the time she was 9 or 10 until she was 23. After her mother passed away, Mom traveled to the Northwest to join family and seek employment. She was hired as a secretary at Hanford. The handsome fella who took her picture for her security badge became her husband 3 months later. Yeah ... it was love at first sight! That was in 1949. Mom and Dad were married for 67 years before Dad passed away in 2016. Mom and Dad had two children, Linda Jayne, born in 1950, and John Randall, born in 1951.

Mom worked outside the home (and inside too!) until she retired in 1989. Amazingly, she never drove a car. Dad gave her one lesson, it didn't go well, and that was the end of that! Her working career was spent almost entirely in the insurance industry. She worked for several insurance agencies in Yakima, including Hull, Miller, Deccio, Hargreaves and Junker, Orkney and Orkney, Ross Dent, and finally Conover Insurance. Lasting friendships and memories of fun times spent together with her Insurance Women of Yakima gang always put a smile on Mom's face.

When not working, Mom and Dad loved to travel. Their favorite adventures were in the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, almost all of the National Parks in the Western United States and Las Vegas. Boy did they love Vegas! Many times in the past few years, Mom thought she was at "the casino". Great and happy place for her to be!

What do we love and admire about our dear Mom?

• Her beautiful blue eyes

• Her big happy smile

• Her darling sense of humor

• Her deep love & appreciation of family and friends

• Her strong work ethic and character

• Her commitment to her community

• Her strong moral compass

• Her thoughtfulness

And the list goes on and on...

Vera is survived by her daughter, Linda and her husband John DePew.of Yakima, her son John R. Lanik of Las Vegas, her grandson Brad DePew and his wife Kristen of Seattle, her grandson Brett DePew and his wife Sue, of Coeur d'Alene, 10. She also leaves behind 3 great grandchildren, Nick, Olivia, and Henry and many nieces and nephews. What a privilege its been to be a part of Vera's family.

Our family would like to express its deep gratitude to the Glen Groves family. Their love and support over the years to our parents has been a Godsend. Also, to the many caregivers at Fieldstone Memory

Care and Memorial Hospital Hospice, thank you for the amazing job you do every day, not only for the caring way you treated Mom, but for the way you treat all of the Fieldstone residents.

Viewing will be Thursday, July 26, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00at Keith Funeral Home, 902 West Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA. Mom's funeral service will be held on Friday, July 27, 2018 at 11:00 am at Rainier Memorial Center, 2807 Terrace Heights Drive, Yakima, WA 98901. Burial will be at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the charity of your choice. To celebrate Vera’s life and share a memory, please visit www.keithandkeith.com