Obituaries
Sr. Xavier Mary Courvoisier S.N.J.M.
Spokane
Funeral Mass for Sister Xavier Mary Courvoisier, 85, was Monday at the Convent of the Holy Names.
Sr. Courvoisier, who died Wednesday, was born in San Francisco as Elizabeth Leila. She began studying the piano at the age of 3 and knew by age 6 she had been called to serve God.
She took her vows in 1942 as Sister Xavier Mary.
She earned a teaching certificate from Marylhurst College and taught science at the secondary and college level. She graduated from Juilliard School of Music with a master’s degree in violin in 1959.
She was a longtime resident of Spokane, and taught music at Fort Wright College and Gonzaga University in Spokane and at Holy Names University in Oakland, Calif. She played with the Spokane Symphony and Chamber orchestras for 17 years, and began the orchestra at Gonzaga in 1985.
Survivors include a brother, Duncan Courvoisier of Sacramento, Calif.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Sisters of Holy Names Retirement Fund, 2911 W. Fort Wright Drive, Spokane, WA 99224.
Ralph Lemos
Hayden, Idaho
Visitation for Ralph Lemos, 79, will be today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel. Graveside service will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Lemos, who was born in Santa Clara, Calif., died Wednesday.
He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945 in the Pacific Rim and received a Purple Heart and eight Major Engagement Stars.
He married Gloria Lemos and they raised her seven children.
Mr. Lemos was a teamster for Local 237 in San Jose for 23 years.
He retired in the early 1980s before moving to Hayden.
He enjoyed taking his daily morning walks at Silver Lake Mall. Mr. Lemos liked to play cards and was active with several area groups.
Survivors include seven children, Carl Mazzuca of Florida, Frank Mazzuca of Phoenix, Ben Mazzuca of Hayden, Ruth Giesler of Coeur dAlene, Mike Mazzuca of Rathdrum, Idaho, Joe Mazzuca of Post Falls and Brenda Mazzuca of Sacramento; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Thelma Oxford
Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Service for Thelma (Wernecke) Oxford, 79, was Nov. 23 at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. Burial followed at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry.
Mrs. Oxford, who was born in Genesee, Idaho, died Nov. 18.
She grew up in Pataha, Wash., and attended Holy Rosary Catholic School and Pomeroy High School.
In 1943 she married Milus Oxford. He preceded her in death.
They lived in Missoula, Thompson Falls, and several other towns in Western Montana and North Idaho before settling in Bonners Ferry in 1960.
She was a homemaker, and was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary, St. Ann’s Altar Society and North Bench Bluebirds. She was also active as a 4-H leader.
Mrs. Oxford enjoyed flower gardening, cooking and Mariners baseball.
Survivors include three sons, Mike Oxford of Naukati, Alaska, and Steve and Tom Oxford, both of Moyie Springs, Idaho; two daughters, Sue Lee of Bellingham and Paula Polumsky of Clarkston; two sisters, Violet Bundy of Hermiston, Ore., and George Beuchheim of Royal City, Wash.; 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Harold Lunneborg
Spokane Valley
Burial Mass for Harold J. Lunneborg, 90, will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church. Hennessey Valley Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Lunneborg, who died Friday, was born in Spokane and was a lifetime resident of the area.
In 1942 he married Stella Knoll.
He served in the Army during World War II, and retired from Kaiser Trentwood.
Mr. Lunneborg enjoyed gardening, hunting and reading.
Survivors include his wife; and a son, Larry Lunneborg of Longview, Wash.
Bessie (Grenfell) Dunsmore
Osburn, Idaho
Service for Bessie Jane (Grenfell) Dunsmore, 97, will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Kellogg Funeral Chapel with burial to be at Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg.
Mrs. Dunsmore, who was born in Wardner, Idaho, died Saturday. She was a lifelong Silver Valley resident.
In 1929 she married Joseph Dunsmore. He died in 1985.
Mrs. Dunsmore was a homemaker and enjoyed camping, fishing, crocheting and traveling.
Survivors include a son, Robert Dunsmore of Osburn; and a sister, Virginia Dunsmore of Silverton, Idaho.
Memorials may be made to Idaho Youth Ranch, P.O. Box 8538, Boise, ID 83707.
Lucille Seubert
Spokane
Burial Mass for Lucille M. Seubert, 79, will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Paschal Roman Catholic Church. Hennessey Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Seubert, who died Nov. 19, was born in Ferdinand, Idaho, and had lived in the Spokane area for more than 39 years.
She was a member of St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church and St. Paschal Catholic Church, where she served on the Altar Society.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene.
Survivors include four sons, Alan of Spokane, Richard of Renton, Gerald of Hope, Idaho, and Kenny of Edmonds, Wash.; a sister, Teresa Entrup of Cottonwood, Idaho; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society or Cancer Patient Care.
Neil Robison
Coeur d’Alene
Memorial service for Neil O. Robison, 72, will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Silver Valley Church of the Nazarene in Kellogg, with a reception to follow at the church. Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Robison, who was born in Baker, Nev., died Thursday.
He moved to Mullan, Idaho, with his family and graduated from high school there in 1949.
Mr. Robison spent most of his life working in the mining industry, and recently retired from Northwest Mine Supply in Wallace.
He lived in Coeur d’Alene with his wife, Margy “Britt” for more than 30 years. She died in 2002.
Mr. Robison was a member of the American Hunting Club and the National Rifle Association, and was active in competitive shooting for many years.
He enjoyed the outdoors.
Survivors include three children, Michael Hagan of Allyn, Wash., Jo D. Boltz of University Place, Wash., and Leigh Ann Sanford of Shelton, Wash.; a sister, Colleen of California; seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Betty (Donnenwirth) Jones
St. Maries
Graveside inurnment for Betty Ann (Donnenwirth) Jones, 72, will be Sunday at noon at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries. Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Jones, who was born in Miles City, S.D., died Friday.
She moved with her family to Avery, Idaho, in the mid-1940s.
In 1948 she married Melvin Allen and they lived in St. Maries. They divorced in 1972.
She later married Gerald Jones. He died in 1990.
Mrs. Jones worked as a nurses aide at the St. Maries Hospital and as a housekeeper at The Pines Motel. She later managed the Cherry Creek Trailer Court until selling the business to retire.
Mrs. Jones served as secretary treasurer of the local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter for 12 years.
She enjoyed camping, fishing, animals, bowling and being a housewife.
Survivors include three sons, Duane, Edgar and Mike Allen, all of St. Maries; a daughter, Cindy Zupan of Kingston, Idaho; two brothers, Dennis Donnenwirth of Rose Lake, Idaho, and Donnie Donnenwirth of Rathdrum, Idaho; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Bonnie (Gray) Gaines
St. Maries
Service for Bonnie A. (Gray) Gaines, 86, will be today at 11 a.m. at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d’Alene with a reception to follow at The Iron Horse Restaurant in Coeur d’Alene. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.
Mrs. Gaines, who was born in Leahy, Wash., died Thursday.
She moved to North Idaho with her family and married Clifford “Bud” Gaines in 1936.
Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Gary Gaines; a brother, Harry Gray; five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.