Philomena Mae Nomee

Philomena's journey began in Desmet, Idaho where she was born on May 11th, 1951 to Henry Willard "Bill" Nomee and Tillie Nomee, and she entered eternal rest on April 1st, 2025 at the age of 73. Philomena was one of 11 children of Bill and Tillie Nomee. She was called home after her parents Bill and Tillie Nomee, and siblings Lydia "Bugs" Nomee and Milton Nomee. And survived by siblings, Mariane "Toni" Nomee, Willard Nomee, Alfred Nomee, Agnes Nomee, Wilma Bob, Joe Nomee, Calvin Nomee, and Francis "Chee Chee" Arapis.
Philomena is also survived by her children, Butch, Bobbie, Bernie and James and grandchildren, Joseph, Johnathon, Jordyn, Jacob, Tsones, TyKissia, Quill, Emitt, Dayitiihi, Deannete White, Talon, Tyshea, Sergio, Jasper, and Dre'don. She has 8 great grandchildren with one on the way, and preceded in death by her grandson, Kristian AYoungman White.
Philomena spent most of her adolescent years in this area around Desmet, Worley, Plummer, St. Maries, and Spokane. She attended boarding school in Desmet for much of her younger years and attended high school in St Maries, Worley, and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Washington in 1970. Philomena then continued her education at Spokane Community College and majored in General Studies.
Philomena had her first child Henry Willard "Butch" Nomee on June 19th, 1972. She later met Robert Loren Twoteeth from Rocky Boy, Montana and they spent 11 years together and lived in various places including Spokane, Plummer, Worley, and Desmet. They had 3 children. Roberta "Bobbie" Nomee was born on August 8th, 1973, Bernadine Carol Twoteeth was born on June 26th, 1977, and James Conrad Twoteeth was born on June 19th, 1979.
Philomena and Robert later divorced, and Philomena knew the struggles of a single parent, she worked tirelessly across various jobs to provide for her children. She worked at the Plummer Quik Stop, Benewah Market, The Tribes Fishing Rod assembly plant, and the Cut and Sew business, just to name a few, and she later found her calling at the Coeur d'Alene Tribes Enrollment office until her retirement in 2022, Philomena's work ethic was second to none. Philomena served for many years on the Enrollment Committee. She worked hard and persevered and she provided for her children. She somehow, always found a way to make ends meet.
Aside from her working career Philomena's lifelong passion in life was beading, basket weaving, quilling, sewing and really just making anything and everything wonderful with the knowledge of her Coeur d'Alene culture and the skills of her creativity making art with her own two hands. She was a master bead worker and basket weaver and you can see the accomplishments of her work throughout Indian county. Her work adorns her children and grandchildren from birth to the dance floor and you would hear her say often, they are all "champion dancers"! Philomena made thousands of artistic pieces that will live on forever and she shared her knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn by showing her work in area craft shows, museums, events, and leading classes herself. Philomena always attributed her knowledge and skills as a trait that she gathered from mother and grandmother, and it was her pride to share that she comes from a family of fine bead workers and weavers and that she learned at a very young age from her mother and grandmother. She would say her passion for continuing to bead was fueled by her family, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Often we would tease amongst each other and say, our kids can't be having shabby moccassins! Philomena has done several beautiful fully beaded outfits, 18 cradle boards, and 5 fully beaded vests over her lifetime as a beadwork artist. Her work is notable, of very high quality and will remain timeless with us all.
Philomena also loved to travel and hit the pow wow trail with her family. And you could hear her cheer loudly as her children and grandchildren danced, especially as she watches the fancy feet of her grandsons, Jonathan and Emmit. I'll never forget the time at gathering of nations when Dahyi debuted her fully beaded buckskin outfit or the time her and I stayed up a few nights to have Bobbies blue dress ready for her wedding. Or the time we were at a powwow that had a recycled outfit special and her and I combined our creativity to make a grass dance and jingle dress outfit out of soda boxes and plastic using only duct tape to put it all together. Phil was so detailed she even put pleats in the sleeves only using duct tape.
The past more than 20 years Philomena committed herself to sharing her traditions and heritage alongside her family. She created the Shooting Star dancers and provided opportunities and encouragement for our youth to showcase their culture and dance. If they did not have an outfit, she would provide one and she encouraged every child who wanted to participate. As she MCd many of the events, she would instill pride in the participants while they each gave it their all on the stage and she created awe within the crowd and she always made the group go around and shake hands displaying respect for one another.
Philomena was the kind of person who would drop everything to help someone in need, whether they were family, friends, or even a stranger. Phil loved to laugh and she had an infectious spirt and her quirky sayings like "Oh for crying in the NIGHT", "Cripes", brought laughter and comfort to those around her.
Philomena's humor and her laughter was as unique as her artistic talents. Her "yaya" sense of humor, as she called it was a constant source of joy. Whether it was her playful reprimands to James CONRAD for CUSSING or her light-hearted quips about beer cheese soup to her grandchildren, she had a way of livening up the room and making everyone smile.
Philomena I'm sure has touched everyone in this room and has left you with special gifts from her amazing life. Let us all cherish the time she has spent with us, the teachings she taught us, and the love she had for everyone. She was our matriarch, the one who held our family together, and her absence undoubtably be felt in the months to come.
To the family.
Philomena Mae Nomee, thank you for the laughter, the lessons, and the love. You will be deeply missed, but your spirit will forever by woven into the fabric of our lives.
"LET IT BE SO, and SO IT IS."
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