Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2019 18:06:06 GMT -5
Ellen Patricia (Grillo) Zosel peacefully passed
away in the early morning of December 26, 2019 at her home on Lake Osoyoos where
she’d lived since 1951. Ellen was born March 17, 1920 in Republic,
Washington to pioneer homesteaders and Italian immigrants, Anthony and Stella
Grillo. She spent her first six years on the family’s Frosty Creek homestead in
the Aeneas Valley. After the tragic 1926 death of her little sister, Grace, the
family moved to Omak.
Ellen attended school and graduated from Omak High
School in 1937, and she was the last living member of that class. She then
attended Kinman Business College in Spokane before returning to work in the
Okanogan County Extension office. After marrying Jim Zosel on September 5, 1942
in Reno, NV, the Army couple lived in Marysville, CA Macomb, Il, and Bend, OR
before Jim deployed overseas in 1944. Ellen moved back to stay with her parents
in Tonasket until Jim’s return from World War II. Their son, Paul, was
born in 1945 during Jim’s deployment, and their daughter, Janell, joined the
family in 1947. Four years later, they built their dream home on the
shores of Lake Osoyoos where Ellen enjoyed living until her
passing.
Ellen’s joys in life centered around her family,
friends, and faith. She made her choice to follow Jesus at Chelan Convention in
1929 and stood true to her choice throughout her days. Ellen knew how to cook
the finest meals, and she could be counted on to produce cakes from scratch for
every special occasion. A long history of meals around the Zosel dining room
table includes Thanksgiving festivities accompanied by personal menus produced
by her typewriter. She enjoyed gathering family around her grand piano where her
playing and beautiful soprano voice led Christmas singalongs up until recent
years. Ellen’s sharp memory as a family historian who recalled details and
events from long ago also made her difficult to beat in Trivial Pursuit. A
genuine representative of The Greatest Generation, Ellen’s influence will carry
on in the lives she touched.
Ellen was preceded in death by her husband of 76
years, Jim (2018), sister, Grace (1926), brother Virgil Grillo (1975), father
Anthony Grillo (1956), and mother Stella Grillo (1970). She is survived by her
son, Paul Zosel (Brit) of Bellingham, WA, daughter Janell Davenport (Scott) of
Wenatchee, WA, brother Jerry (Dawn) of Waterville, WA, granddaughters Siri,
Heidi (Travis), Lindi (Jason), Jamie Cannon (Kyle), and grandson Jed (Meagan),
great-granddaughters Jorja and Isis, and great-grandson,
Jack.
Ellen’s warm smile and encouragement will be
missed by those who loved her in so many ways. A special thanks to
granddaughter, Siri, for staying with her grandma the final 8 months, to hospice
for their support, and many special friends who supported her to the end. All
these efforts allowed Ellen to spend her last days in the home she loved before
going on to her eternal reward.
A private funeral service will be held at Bergh
Chapel in Oroville at 11 AM
on Saturday, January 4th, with
Scott Price officiating. There will be a viewing on
Friday, January 3rd, 6-8
PM. Interment to be at Riverview
Cemetery.
away in the early morning of December 26, 2019 at her home on Lake Osoyoos where
she’d lived since 1951. Ellen was born March 17, 1920 in Republic,
Washington to pioneer homesteaders and Italian immigrants, Anthony and Stella
Grillo. She spent her first six years on the family’s Frosty Creek homestead in
the Aeneas Valley. After the tragic 1926 death of her little sister, Grace, the
family moved to Omak.
Ellen attended school and graduated from Omak High
School in 1937, and she was the last living member of that class. She then
attended Kinman Business College in Spokane before returning to work in the
Okanogan County Extension office. After marrying Jim Zosel on September 5, 1942
in Reno, NV, the Army couple lived in Marysville, CA Macomb, Il, and Bend, OR
before Jim deployed overseas in 1944. Ellen moved back to stay with her parents
in Tonasket until Jim’s return from World War II. Their son, Paul, was
born in 1945 during Jim’s deployment, and their daughter, Janell, joined the
family in 1947. Four years later, they built their dream home on the
shores of Lake Osoyoos where Ellen enjoyed living until her
passing.
Ellen’s joys in life centered around her family,
friends, and faith. She made her choice to follow Jesus at Chelan Convention in
1929 and stood true to her choice throughout her days. Ellen knew how to cook
the finest meals, and she could be counted on to produce cakes from scratch for
every special occasion. A long history of meals around the Zosel dining room
table includes Thanksgiving festivities accompanied by personal menus produced
by her typewriter. She enjoyed gathering family around her grand piano where her
playing and beautiful soprano voice led Christmas singalongs up until recent
years. Ellen’s sharp memory as a family historian who recalled details and
events from long ago also made her difficult to beat in Trivial Pursuit. A
genuine representative of The Greatest Generation, Ellen’s influence will carry
on in the lives she touched.
Ellen was preceded in death by her husband of 76
years, Jim (2018), sister, Grace (1926), brother Virgil Grillo (1975), father
Anthony Grillo (1956), and mother Stella Grillo (1970). She is survived by her
son, Paul Zosel (Brit) of Bellingham, WA, daughter Janell Davenport (Scott) of
Wenatchee, WA, brother Jerry (Dawn) of Waterville, WA, granddaughters Siri,
Heidi (Travis), Lindi (Jason), Jamie Cannon (Kyle), and grandson Jed (Meagan),
great-granddaughters Jorja and Isis, and great-grandson,
Jack.
Ellen’s warm smile and encouragement will be
missed by those who loved her in so many ways. A special thanks to
granddaughter, Siri, for staying with her grandma the final 8 months, to hospice
for their support, and many special friends who supported her to the end. All
these efforts allowed Ellen to spend her last days in the home she loved before
going on to her eternal reward.
A private funeral service will be held at Bergh
Chapel in Oroville at 11 AM
on Saturday, January 4th, with
Scott Price officiating. There will be a viewing on
Friday, January 3rd, 6-8
PM. Interment to be at Riverview
Cemetery.