Obituaries
Sylvia Tessitore Spokane
Visitation for Sylvia A. Tessitore, 52, will be from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-South. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Mrs. Tessitore, who was born in Lincoln, N.M., died Wednesday.
She moved in the early 1960s to Montana and she worked at Head Start in Stevensville as a cook and teacher.
Mrs. Tessitore graduated from a beauty college in Missoula in 1972 and began working as a cosmetologist.
She moved to Spokane in 1979 and worked as a hairdresser for Hairkrafters Cut-n-Curl for many years.
Survivors include her companion, Leonard Patrick, at home; two daughters, Rhona Villanueva of Spokane and Gina Worst of Rathdrum, Idaho; three sisters, Irene Maturino of Dallas, and Mary Adler and Edna Sandoval, both of New Mexico; nine brothers, Gabriel, Joe, Fortino, Billy, Emilio, and Orlando Otero, all of New Mexico, Robert Otero of Florida, John Otero of Texas, and Tony Otero of Spokane; her father, Antonio Otero of New Mexico; and two grandsons.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Donald ‘Don’ Galbraith Spokane
Memorial service for Donald G. “Don” Galbraith, 69, will be at 1 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home. Private inurnment was at Fairmount Memorial Park.
Mr. Galbraith, who was born in Iron Mountain, Mich., died Wednesday.
He served in the Army.
He received a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in 1951.
In 1969 he married Betty Monks in Spokane.
Mr. Galbraith was an Allstate Insurance agent for 39 years. He retired in 1996.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Bryan Galbraith of Wilsonville, Ore.; a daughter, Melinda McLucas of Burbank, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Janet Kenley of Liberty Lake; a brother, Douglas Galbraith of Orchard Lake, Mich.; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation.
John Panessa Sr. Spokane
No service will be held for John Panessa Sr., 91, at his request. Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Panessa, who was born in Yonkers, N.Y., died Wednesday.
He owned a plumbing and heating company.
Mr. Panessa moved to Spokane in 1980 and was a member of the Moose Lodge.
His wife, Sadie, preceded him in death.
Survivors include a son, John Panessa Jr. of Newport, Wash.; and six grandsons.
Harold Higginbotham Spokane
Visitation for Harold V. Higginbotham, 78, will be from noon to 6 p.m. today and Sunday at Heritage Funeral Home. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace.
Mr. Higginbotham, who was a 51-year resident of Spokane, died Thursday.
He was born in Waterloo, Neb., and graduated from high school in Kimberly, Idaho.
Mr. Higginbotham served in the Army.
He worked as a forklift driver and warehouseman.
His wife of 41 years, Betty Jean, died in 1990.
Survivors include a son, Frederick Higginbotham of Yuba City, Calif.; three daughters, Janice Learn and Sandra Miller, both of Spokane, and Karen Lyons of Bellevue, Wash.; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Cheryl Brewster Spokane
Visitation for Cheryl Louise “Cheri” Brewster, 49, will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home-North. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the Sunset Hill Baptist Church.
Mrs. Brewster, who was an 18-year resident of Spokane, died Wednesday.
She was born in Fort Collins, Colo., and graduated from East High School in Pueblo, Colo.
Mrs. Brewster worked for Continental Bakery for 15 years and had been employed at the Guardian Insurance Co. for the past three years.
She was a member of the Sunset Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Bill Troup and Roy Brewster, both of Spokane; and her parents, Oliver and Lorraine Brunz of Spokane.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sunset Hill Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society.
Margaret ‘Maggie’ Kuhlman Spokane
Memorial service for Margaret A. “Maggie” Kuhlman, 85, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Opportunity Christian Church. Inurnment will be at Pines Cemetery. Thornhill Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangement.
Mrs. Kuhlman, who was born in Spokane, died Wednesday.
She graduated from North Central High School and worked for Kress Department Store.
She was involved in gardening and ceramics.
Her husband, Kenneth Kuhlman, died in 1994.
Survivors include a daughter, Pat Holbert of Veradale; two sons, Jim and Mike Kuhlman, both of Portland; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spokane.