Obituary: Pennel, Laura Pearl (Ficca)
Preceded in death by parents Nicholas and Pearl Ficca; brothers Earl, Ralph, Don, Phil, Lawrence; sisters Marguerite and Adeline.
Survived by husband Claire Pennel; daughters Janet Anderson (Arlan) and Joyce Bippes (Roger); brothers Les Ficca and Rich Ficca; sister Edna May Anderson; grandchildren Kari Anderson, Jeff Anderson, Tamie Hall, Josh Bippes; numerous great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
Attended Cooper Elementary school and graduated from Rogers High School.
As a child she attended the Baptist Church and was a member of the Royal Neighbors group.
After graduation she worked at the Spokane Air Depot (now Fairchild) doing civil service work which was a federal government job during the war.
She and sister May were riding a bus out to Natatorium Park and met Claire and his friend.
Laura and Claire started dating and corresponding and were married October 27, 1945.
They started Ace Welding in their garage on 4th Avenue in Greenacres WA.
Then they owned Northwest Ornamental Iron on Sprague Ave down by Fancher.
They then purchased land and a building on Sprague in Veradale and moved there.
Later they added fireplaces and renamed it Northwest Ornamental Iron and Fireplace Shop.
Laura worked several years for Appleway Florist transplanting plants and doing flower arrangements.
Laura and Claire bowled on several leagues for many years and loved to play pinochle with friends and family.
They were members of Antique Auto Club and a RV Club.
Laura was a Girl Scout Leader for Joyce’s group.
She enjoyed fishing and camping and they owned a lake cabin at Sacheen Lake.
She snowmobiled and rode a four wheeler up at the lake.
After retirement they traveled throughout the United States and overseas.
She was a wonderful caring, loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 31, 2015 from 12:00 - 4:00PM at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 2:00PM at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home with interment to follow at Pines Cemetery.