Lillian Josephine Kinonen

Lillian Josephine (Scherr) Kinonen better known to those who loved her as Lillie, mom, grandma, nana. She was 85 years old living in hospice with Ken, Vi and Karen by her side, when she went home to Jesus on Saturday, January 15, 2022, Lilly was born May 8, 1936(Mother's Day), in Strasburg ND to Clemens and Josephine (Vetter) Scherr on the family farm. She lived there until the farm was sold to her brother. Living on the farm was not an easy thing for mom or anyone else in those days. She helped clean, cook, and take care of the animals. She used to say that the reason her feet were so bad was because all the shoes she had to wear were hand-me-downs and too small for her feet. After selling the farm, they moved into Strasburg, a small town in North Dakota. She finished the 8th grade before she had to go to work to help support her family. She used to talk about helping support her parents, she even had to buy her own false teeth. Mom always had a kind heart for most everyone she Knew. Mom was the youngest of the family with 8 older brothers and sisters which she loved very much. There were many years difference from her oldest siblings, that she had a nephew, Anton Schweitzer who was only 5 years younger than her. Since she was in such a large family, she had numerous family members, stemming forward at least three or four generations. Mom met her future husband, Elvin Kinonen at her sister Regina's restaurant where she worked. Mom used to say he was always hanging around the restaurant, just to be around her. They married on August 18, 1956. Mom and dad started their married life in Steel, North Dakota. Dad got transferred to Whidbey Island, WA.,. when Ken and I were very young. We eventually moved to Lacrosse WA for about a year and then to Uniontown, WA where we all lived for 17 years. Mom stayed another 7 years after dad passed away in 1981. Dad was the love of her life and she never married again. Mom moved to Vancouver, WA in 1988 to be around the grandkids and lived in several different places until moving to Winlock in September of 2021. Mom and dad had three children together; Dean Allen Kinonen (stillborn birth) April 10, 1957, Karen Kay Quillard (Married to William) born August 14, 1958, living in Vancouver, WA. and Kenneth Elvin Kinonen (married to Vilma) born October 20, 1959. Mom has 5 grandchildren Kristin McKee, Jennifer Gray, Shanna Sepe, Julian "Iulica" Kinonen, and Kimberly Dawn Quillard, who preceded mom in going to heaven. She has 6 great grandchildren that she cherished and loved, Madelyn, Dehlyla, Harper, John, Lincoln, and Emery. Mom was the traditional stay-at-home mother, raising us kids with love, and was the best cook/baker ever! We were blessed with our parents, that a lot of our friends called them "mom and dad", and they were always at our house. We would play games, play outside in the snow or the sunshine, and mom always had treats for us. Through her life she also worked in restaurants, a nursing home, and lastly as a home health provider. Mostly she loved being mom, grandma, and nana! She would tell you the grand and great grandchildren were her favorites. Mom loved to crochet, she made a whole spectrum of items from, Afghans, baby blankets, down too Barbie doll clothes. Mom did charity work for the churches by making baby blankets for the needy. She always had a needle in her hand and was making something. She also loved to read. Karen was always going to Barnes and Noble and buying her books or checking her list of books to see what she had already read. Mom loved playing with her grandkids and going to the beach. Mom had a beautiful love for God. She was raised Catholic, but when she married dad, she committed to the Lutheran church. Around 2010 she wanted to go back to the Catholic faith. She became a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church here in Vancouver. She felt so loved and at home there with Father Gary Lazzeroni along with the staff and parishioners, they made her feel that way. One of mom's favorite things to do was help Karen make ornaments for the church's Giving Tree at Christmas time. She enjoyed being with other people and getting to know them. Mom got to know Father Luigi Aloysius of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chehalis, WA., who visited her three times and gave her last rights while she was on hospice. Mom was (in) hospice for two and half months and lived with Ken and his wife Vilma (Vi)with Vi taking care of her as her certified family caregiver. Mom survived longer than expected and we were sure that Vi gave mom that extra time from the amazing care that she gave mom. It was enough time for her to see all the grandkids, great grandkids, from all around the USA and to spend one more Christmas and New Years with us all. The doctors told mom when Ken was born, that she would never see his 21st birthday, because of her type one diabetes, they did not consider for mom's strong will to live, and her strength. Mom had so many friends and I know that she is now reunited with so many of them. I think of Helen J, Shirley F, Rosie G, Kathryn B, Mary R, who had all gone before her. She has left behind her "other" family Robin and Susan Hickok family who are very special people to all of us! She was Godmother to their son Mark. Mom was also Godmother to two of her nephews, Lawrence Schweitzer and Chris Scherr. She still has many friends in Uniontown, and Vancouver who will miss her. Mom was the baby of 9 children all preceding her in death: Edwin (Egidie) Scherr and Barbara (Scherr). Joseph (Joe) Scherr and Glady's (Terro). Michael (Mike) Scherr and Helen (Ternes). Regina Scherr and Alexander (Schweitzer) Eva Scherr and Everett (Schiermeister) Mathias (Matt) Scherr and Alvina (Geffre) Elizabeth (Betty) Scherr and JC (Melancon) Lawrence Scherr and Bertha (Schlichenmayer) Lillian Scherr and Elvin (Kinonen) Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, February 16th at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church 400 S. Andresen Rd, Vancouver, WA 98661. Father Gary Lazzeroni and Father Luigi Aloysius officiating. Burial will be in Uniontown, WA next to her loving husband Elvin later this summer. Live Stream connections: Facebook - www.facebook.com/stjoevan YouTube - www.youtube.com/stjoevan Vimeo - www.vimeo.com/stjoevan

Lillian Josephine Kinonen

May 8, 1936 - January 15, 2022