Viola Marie "Vi" Cournyer

1937 - 2018

Viola Marie "Vi" Cournyer obituary, 1937-2018, Colville, WA

FUNERAL HOME

Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory - Colville

155 W First Avenue

Colville, Washington

Viola Cournyer Obituary

Viola "Vi" Marie (Pfeifer) Cournyer entered into rest October 14, 2018, surrounded by her loving family, after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Viola was 81. She was born on April 17, 1937, in Rugby, N.D., (the geographical center of North America) the daughter of Anton and Anna (Buckmeier) Pfeifer. Viola grew up in Minnewaukan, N.D. She attended Minot State Teachers College, where she earned her teaching certification. On a dare, Viola traveled from her home town of Minnewaukan, to Burns, Ore., to take a teaching job. Soon afterward, while traveling on a bus to a teacher's conference in Bend, Ore., it was there she met the love of her life.
Michael Cournyer and Viola were married in Minnewaukan July 18, 1959. In 1964, they moved from St Cloud, Minnesota, to Moses Lake with the first three of their seven children, Michael Jr., Joel and Danette. They added two more children, Lisa and Christopher to their family before moving in 1966 to Colville where they had two more children, Jeffrey and Gregg and stayed to raise their family.
Viola taught elementary school beginning in a two-room school house in Summit Valley located on the Addy-Gifford Road. She then went to work for Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and later enrolled at Eastern Washington University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. She went on to earn her Master's degree from Gonzaga University. She started teaching at Aster Elementary School in Colville in 1980 and continued teaching the second grade until her retirement in 2000.
Viola was very active in her parish, the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, spending many years sharing her faith with others by serving in the Alter Society and mostly through her love of music and singing in the choir. Throughout her time in Colville, Viola, with her husband Mike, were very active in the Miss-N-Links Square Dance Club, Delta Kapa Gama and, most recently, their Bunco Group. After retiring, Viola also volunteered with the Mount Carmel Hospital Auxiliary. Viola was happiest when she was surrounded by her friends and family.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Cournyer; siblings Charles Pfeifer [Ruthanne], Hilda Boyd and Gregory Pfeifer [Yolanda]; five children; Joel Cournyer [Kim], Danette Ulrich [Bill], Lisa Haigh [Brian], Chris Cournyer [Rebecca] and Greg Cournyer; eleven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Anton Pfeifer, and mother, Anna Pfeifer, and her children, Michael Jr. and Jeffrey Cournyer.
The services for Viola "Vi" Marie Cournyer will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2108, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Colville beginning with a Rosary at 10 a.m. with the Funeral Mass to follow at 11 a.m. The ash burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Colville with a luncheon reception at the Elks Lodge in Colville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Virginia Mason Foundation in Seattle http://www.virginiamasonfoundation.org/memorial-and-tribute-gifts.
Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook as www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory (155 W. First Ave., Colville) are entrusted with the arrangements.

Published by The Statesman Examiner from Oct. 23 to Oct. 24, 2018.
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4 Entries

Lori Anderson

October 28, 2018

I am so very sorry for such a huge loss. May the entire family some day find some comfort and peace. She truly was such a wonderful lady and will be so missed but forever loved. Love to you all.

Traci Kistenmacher

October 28, 2018

Dear Family of Vi.
So sad to hear about your loss. Vi was a precious friend of mine during my many years in Colville. She was an inspiration to so many with her friendship and the many talents that she shared with us.

Ida Stratton

October 25, 2018

Deepest condolences to the family and friends during this most difficult time. There are no words that can ease the pain of losing someone so beloved. May you find comfort and peace in knowing that your loved one is in God's memory. Psalms 116:15

October 24, 2018

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Memorial Events
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Oct

27

Rosary

10:00 a.m.

Immaculate Conception Church

Colville, WA

Oct

27

Funeral Mass

11:00 a.m.

Immaculate Conception Church

Colville, WA

Funeral services provided by:

Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory - Colville

155 W First Avenue, Colville, WA 99114

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