Obituary: Pils, Diana M.
Age 84
For directions call 922-5072.
Mrs. Pils, a resident of the Spokane Valley since 1958, was born in San Francisco, California, May 2, 1929 to William and Norma Davis, both deceased.
She was raised for 12 years in San Francisco and later in other parts of California.
She was married to Irvin Howard Pils Sr. in 1947, and widowed from Irvin in 2001.
She died peacefully in Spokane, surrounded by loved ones, April 26, 2013.
Diana was co-owner of Irv’s Jewelry and Rock Shop.
After the death of her husband, her youngest daughter and son-in-law, Liz and David Fletcher, carried on with the workings of the shop and eventually became the owners of Irv’s Jewelry and Rock.
In earlier years she briefly worked at Valley Bowl (daycare) and Keytronics.
Her primary work, and where she really shined, was making a home for her husband and four children: Sheila Peters, May Foote, Irvin Pils, and Elizabeth Fletcher.
To this end she would be considered a true success.
Diana was a very talented and exceptional person - avid reader, intellect, writer, poet, artist, inventor, interested in politics, lover of all the arts - donated vast amounts of time to activities with her own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and neighborhood kids.
Some memories about Diana include creating incredible home-made Halloween costumes that won prizes; creating a knight sculpted out of aluminum foil and mounted to the roof of the family sedan for the EVHS Homecoming Parade in the ‘60s; designing one-of-a-kind prom gowns; building and painting Christmas toys; directing in-home plays with her children; playing opera music on the phonograph while the kids danced around with silky scarves; and maybe the coup-de-gras was when she helped organize her children and some neighborhood children to create a weekend-long “Neighborhood Carnival” which included: “opening parade”, booth games; carnival acts; a rickshaw ride; dancers; clowns; fortune tellers; museum and a “haunted house” at the end of each day.
She even helped the kids make a concession stand.
She leaves to her immediate community a legacy of memories.
Survivors include her children Sheila Peters, Irvin Pils and Elizabeth Fletcher, all of Spokane, and May Foote of Lewiston, ID; and their spouses Lester Peters, Miki Pils, David Fletcher and Don Foote.
She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Ron and Lona Reed of Oregon, Chase Reed and Shelley Parsons of Idaho, Diana and Bill Rennaker of Otis Orchards, Nathaniel and Rebecca Peters of Tacoma, Benjamin Peters and Tia Broyles of Spokane, Clover Rinehart of Spokane, Carmen and Dan Estep of Post Falls; 14 great-grandchildren: A.J.
Ware-Reed, Xander, Devon and Madelyn Rennaker, Savannah and Brendan Stockton, Ryan Reed, Samantha, Sheridan and Jaden Estep, Adrian and Kellan Peters, Stuart Peters and Talen Broyles; one sister, Joan Rizzo.
Sisters Madelon Thomas, and Mary Spease preceded her in death, as did her only brother Michael Franklin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.