JoNell SEGER Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for JoNell SEGER
Location: Moran Prairie Grange Hall

August 27, 1956 - January 24, 2023

JoNell Irene Edlin (Seger) was born on August 27, 1956, in Spokane, WA. She was one of five children born to Helen and Lester Seger. She passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2023, at age 66 in Spokane at Deaconess Hospital.

JoNell spent most of her life in Spokane, Washington. Her formative years were spent establishing her career, falling in love, and caring for her family. She met Tom Edlin while volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters Club in 1982. They were married within a year and had three wonderful children together: Geoffrey, Teresa, and Matthew.

Her midlife years were focused on working, doting on her family and friends, and volunteering. In 2012, while working full time, she helped launch and operate Toby's BBQ - a successful food truck that she ran with her husband Tom until they sold it in 2019. JoNell "retired" in 2020, but that doesn't mean her life slowed down at all. Her time was spent volunteering and visiting friends and family. JoNell was an avid volunteer, and over her life, she gave generous amounts of time and love to Big Brother Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Spokesman-Review Christmas Bureau, and the League of Women Voters.

Positive, caring, generous, and selfless is how JoNell will be remembered. Giving back and helping others were cornerstones of her personality. JoNell was blessed with the ability to see the best in people despite their circumstances or challenges and was a firm believer in second, third, and fourth chances. Yet it was JoNell's determination, joyous laugh, and strength of character that captivated everyone.

JoNell's husband, Tom, her children, Geoffrey and his wife, Tiffany; Teresa and her husband, Gary; Matthew and his wife, Kyla, along with JoNell's brother, Jerry, her sister, Joyce; her beloved grandchildren, Parker and JoyLen, numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends mourn the loss of this incredible woman. JoNell was adored by all that knew her, and she will be deeply missed.

Remembrance services for JoNell will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2023. Graveside service will begin at 2 pm at Spokane Memorial Gardens, 5909 S Cheney-Spokane Rd, Spokane, WA, 99209. Celebration of Life to immediately follow at the Moran Prairie Grange Hall, located at 6030 S Palouse Hwy, Spokane, WA, 98223.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations in JoNell's name may be made to some of her favorite charities: Big Brothers Big Sisters, League of Women Voters, or The Spokesman-Review Christmas Bureau.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Spokesman-Review on Feb. 3, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for JoNell SEGER

7 Entries

Kathy Harper

February 15, 2023

I went to Rogers High School with JoNell, she was such nice person! Rest in peace, JoNell.

Rick

February 15, 2023

Best supervisor ever. I enjoyed working for someone who exhibited compassion in the workplace.

Earlene

February 10, 2023

As a sister in law, she was much more like a sister to me. Either of us was always ready to drop what we were doing to go run errands together. That usually included grabbing a cup of tea for her and coffee for me. We enjoyed searching second hand and thrift stores. One of our latest trips took us to Fairfield for a household sale which resulted in Tom having to return with us to Fairfield, driving his truck for our finds. We returned home with our "treasures" and many shrubs and iris that he helped dig up from the yard of the Fairfield old home. Tom was a good sport about it and planted everything in their yard later that day. She gave some of the iris to me and I will enjoy seeing them this Spring.
Those frequent errand trips and meals together are wonderful memories. We also enjoyed playing "marbles" together on many occasions.
Family was important to her and I am blessed for our times together.

Jessica Gerdes

February 9, 2023

What a loss! She had a very strong presence for what was most important to her. I admired Jonell, even though we didn't always see eye to eye. I appreciated her personal attention in her role as automation is norm. I am so sorry for her family. I send peace and hope as you process this new future. Blessings to all that knew her.

Laura

February 3, 2023

I went to school with JoNell at Lidgerwood Elementary. I actually never knew her as JoNell instead "Joyce". She was a really nice kid! If you were a friend of hers she made you feel really good and important. I didn´t know she loved volunteering, looking back now that makes sense because she was always extending herself at school. To her family, I am so very sorry for your loss.
Laura

Heidi Meany, Christmas Bureau Coordinator

February 3, 2023

The entire Christmas Bureau family of volunteers and staff are so sorry to hear of JoNell´s passing. She will be greatly missed. We are all holding Tom and their family in our prayers.

Gail Chermak

February 2, 2023

I send my deepest condolences to Tom and family. JoNell had an infectious laugh and joyful personality, which brightened every interaction between us in the early days as we built the current WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. I will always cherish the hand-painted paperweight JoNell gave me when she left the college to do more of what she loved-- volunteering to better the lives of so many around her. Her memory is a treasure.

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