Elaine Laurent Laessle

Elaine Laurent Laessle, 87, a three-year Spokane, Wash., resident, died Dec. 20, 2006.

Mrs. Laessle was born Nov. 21, 1919, in Philadelphia, to George and Mary Laurent.

She married Frank W. Laessle in 1939 in Media, Pa.

She traveled extensively through the world as a Navy wife.

She graduated from Montreat College High School in Montreat, N.C., and Pierce Business College in Philadelphia. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, and her master's from UC Berkeley. She also received her associate's in nursing from Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash.

She worked as a legal secretary, a reference librarian, a medical librarian and as a registered nurse in several states. She also worked as the medical librarian at Carson-Tahoe Hospital.

Before moving to Spokane, Mrs. Laessle lived in Carson City from 1987 to 2003.

She volunteered as an American Red Cross Nurse's Aide in Boston, as a neighborhood chairwoman for the American Girl Scouts for Southern Japan in Sasebo, Japan, and with St. Mary's Hospice of Northern Nevada. She was a member of Beta Phi Mu, the International Library Science and Information Honor Society, the Medical Library Association, and other groups.

She enjoyed reading, libraries, health and medicine, computers, travel, shopping, Christmas, spirituality, her dog Barney, and spending time with friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband; brothers George and Gene Laurent; son Daniel Laessle; and grandson Michael diLustro.

Among her survivors are daughters Susan diLustro of San Diego and Joan Waters of Spokane; sons Mark Laessle of Rosalia, Wash. and David Laessle of Snohomish, Wash.; 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary's Hospice of Northern Nevada, 3264 Goni Road #151, Carson City, NV 89706, or to Montreat College, Montreat, N.C., 28757.

A memorial service will be held at the Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory in Spokane, Wash., is in charge of arrangements.