Obituaries

Hester Rooney Spokane

Service for Hester M. Rooney, 72, will be at 2 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.

Mrs. Rooney, who had lived in Spokane for more than 30 years, died Thursday.

She was born in Edgemont, Ark., and had been a home health caregiver for 20 years.

Mrs. Rooney is survived by four sons, Robert Rooney Jr. of Spokane, Dale Rooney of Las Vegas, Nev., Michael Rooney of Cedar Hill, Texas, and Tedd Fieldstad of Rochester, Wash.; three daughters, Margaret Kortness and Mary Kyle, both of Spokane and Sharon Crowe of LaVergne, Tenn.; four brothers, Red Chambers of Spokane, Homer Chambers of Post Falls, Leo Chambers of Concord, Calif., and Rod Chambers of Poway, Calif.; three sisters, Pauline Hartsfield of Greenbrier, Ark., Robbie Duren of Post Falls and Georgia Tombari of Spokane; 24 grandchildren 26 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Benedetto Cozza Spokane

Funeral Mass for Benedetto Cozza, 65, is set for 10 a.m. today at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Italy, Mr. Cozza died Wednesday.

He had lived in Spokane for 27 years and was a maintenance engineer for a furniture store.

He was a member of the Eagles Lodge.

Mr. Cozza is survived by his wife of 40 year, Maria Cozza; two sons, Francesco and Benedetto Cozza Jr., both of Spokane; two daughters, Teresa Blackwell of Spokane and Angela Blackwell of Portland; two sisters, Maria Lamacchia of Italy and Tina Fry of Spokane; and seven grandchildren.

Stanley Aeck Moses Lake

No service will be held for Stanley V. Aeck, 80. Jones and Jones Funeral Directors in Wenatchee is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Aeck, a 32-year resident of Moses Lake, died Sunday. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa.

He served in the Army during World War II in the 29th Infantry and received three Bronze Stars.

After the war he married Rose Rego in 1946 in St. Louis, Mo.

The couple moved to Aberdeen, Wash., in 1947 and in 1952 they moved to Issaquah, Wash., where they started their first dog kennel. Mr. Aeck was a professional bird dog trainer for more than 50 years.

In 1965 they moved to Moses Lake and operated Hunters Inn and started another dog kennel.

Mr. Aeck was on the board of directors for the Pacific Coast Championship Field Trial Club and judged many field trials. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 110 and the 29th Division Association Post No. 92.

He is survived by his wife; and a daughter, Michele Vanderlinde of Spokane.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Grant County in care of the funeral home.

Eugene Marsillo Spokane

Service for Eugene A. Marsillo, 68, will be at 9 a.m. today at Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home. Burial will be at Pines Cemetery.

Mr. Marsillo, who died Wednesday, was born in Spokane and graduated from West Valley High School.

He served in the Army during the Korean War.

Mr. Marsillo worked for the Milwaukee Railroad, Great Northern Railroad and Burlington Northern Railroad for a total of 40 years. He retired in 1991.

He was a member of American Legion Post 51 and performed with the Hillyard Bells and Trainmen.

Survivors include a son, Daniel Marsillo, and a sister, Dorris Chapados, both of Spokane.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.

Elden Wigen Spokane

Memorial service for Elden C. Wigen, 82, is set for 1 p.m. today at the Spokane Valley United Methodist Church. Private burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park. Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Wigen, who died Wednesday, was born in Palo Alto, Calif.

In 1942 he married Dorothy Johnson in Malta, Mont, and they moved to Spokane. Mr. Wigen worked for Rod’s Electric for 28 years. He retired in 1979.

He was a member of the Shrine Greeters Unit.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, David Wigen of Fillmore, Calif., and Dennis Wigen of Veradale; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children or Spokane Valley United Methodist Church.

Keoka ‘Ko’ Little Simpson Spokane

Visitation for Keoka Marie “Ko” Little Simpson, 51, is scheduled from 9 to 10:30 a.m. today at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Fairmount Memorial Park.

Mrs. Simpson, who died Thursday, was born in Spokane and graduated from Reardan (Wash.) High School.

She attended Washington State University for a year and Spokane Falls Community College for a year.

She had owned Sonrise Specialties, an advertising firm, since 1987 and had also worked for Rockwood Manor and the telephone company.

She was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Northeast Spokane and Business Women of Spokane and was one of the founders of the Spokane Shrine Duck Race. She volunteered with Deaconess Medical Center, Anna Ogden Hall for Women and Children and the Spokane Shriners.

Mrs. Simpson is survived by a son, Robert “B.J.” Simpson III of Spokane; two daughters, Cherylee Boatman of Ritzville, Wash., and Michele Howes of Airway Heights; her parents, Marie and Walt Loftis of Spokane; three sisters, Naomi Thormahlen of Spokane, Jean Roberts of Columbia, S.C., and Isla Durheim of Nine Mile Falls; a brother, Mike Little of Newport, Wash.; and a grandson.

, DataTimes