Effie Rohner

Effie ROHNER

Age 95, died on Good Friday (4/18/14) after a long and full life. She was cheerful and conducted herself with grace and determination to the very end.

Effie was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 23, 1918 to Lily and Peter Kushner, completing a family of two daughters. Her family moved to Vancouver, B.C. Canada when she was three years old. The family home contained her father's shoe shop where Effie helped as she was growing up. She attended King Edward High School. She moved to Lulu Island to work in a fish cannery after her father's death in 1936. Effie later worked as a waitress and a cook in local cafes, including the Blue Owl – Vancouver's first drive-in restaurant.

She met Chief Petty Officer Leo Rohner while roller skating in 1943. They married in 1947 and moved to New York, Leo's family home. They moved to Denver in 1948, had two children, and then finally settled in Seattle in 1950. Effie remained in that same family home for almost 60 years.

Effie became devoted to making Seattle a home for her family by putting down roots in the community. She became a naturalized US citizen in 1957. As her children grew, she enthusiastically became involved with their lives. Her organizational and creative skills manifest themselves in many activities: PTA President, Brownie & Girl Scout leader, active parishioner at Saint Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church for almost 60 years, designer/seamstress for her kids Sea Fair Parade costumes and all the other day to day tasks of running an active household.

Effie loved animals and to the delight of her two children, cheerfully greeted a remarkable variety of pets into the family home over the years. The menagerie included: cats, dogs, goldfish, hamsters, rabbits, lizards, parakeets, chipmunks, turtles and white mice. Many of these pets accompanied the Rohner family on their annual 4 week long summer car camping trips!

Effie believed that it's better to give than receive. Her life exemplified this in her many volunteer activities and she touched many lives by living a lifetime of service to others. She gave freely of her time, despite raising a family and working full time at JC Penney for over 20 years. Out of her personal experiences as a daughter of immigrants, she developed a compassionate and caring heart for the neediest among us; cooking for homeless individuals, teaching sewing to the residents at the Home of the Good Shepherd and serving meals at the American Indian Heritage School. She also volunteered in the SPICE program for senior citizens, helping to provide a range of activities to enrich their lives.

Of Effie's fondest memories, were her experiences with the Girl Scouts of America. Not only was she a troop leader, but she also trained others to serve in this capacity. In 1965, she was selected to represent the Totem Girl Scout Council as a press liaison at the Girl Scout Senior Roundup in Coeur d'Alene, ID.

Effie remained physically active throughout her life. She loved to walk, ski, folk dance, garden and camp. Many of her happiest hours were spent enjoying the blessings of the great outdoors with family and friends.

Effie was preceded in death by her husband of 24 years, Leo, in 1971 and her sister, Ann Howson, in 2010. She is survived by her children, Lorri Burck (Michael) of Centennial, CO and Greg Rohner (Linda Whitcher) of Olympia, WA; her grandchildren, Megan Burck of Denver, CO and Eric Rohner of Salt Lake City, UT; and nephews, Mel Howson of Seattle, WA and Jeff Howson (Anne) of San Francisco, CA.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Effie's caregivers at Aegis Callahan House and Providence Hospice. Their thoughtfulness and compassion were a comfort to all of us.

Recitation of the Rosary will be Thursday, April 24, 2014, at 8:15 AM followed by the Funeral Mass at 9:00 AM, BOTH at St. Catherine Church, 814 NE 85th St., Seattle. Interment, Holyrood Cemetery.

Hoffner Fisher & Harvey

Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com