Obituary of Doris Irene Michalek

Doris Irene Michalek Nov 19, 1918 - Jun 21, 2012 Doris Michalek, born in Battle Ground, Washington to Albert and Edna Leemon, passed peacefully into eternal life on June 21, 2012, after a long life of loving service. During her high school years, Doris lived in McMinnville, Oregon. As a young woman, she joined the civil service and moved to Pendleton, Oregon, and then to Lincoln, Nebraska. It was in Lincoln that she met her husband, Stan. Together they raised seven children. During the course of their marriage, the Air Force sent them to various parts of this country, to Brazil, and finally to Puyallup, Washington. Doris became actively involved in All Saints Parish and devoted herself to advocating for and reaching out to the poor and powerless in Pierce County. While raising their own children, she and Stan cared for foster children, accepted into their home displaced refugees from Europe, Cambodia, Vietnam, Central and South America, and hosted foreign students. She was influential in encouraging ethnic diversity in Puyallup as well as sensitivity to the needs of the Hispanic community. At the age of 61, she went to school to learn Spanish so that she could be of better service. She and Stan, as committed members of the Third Order of St Francis of Assisi, "walked the talk" of living out the Gospel message; they founded St Francis House as an expression of that commitment. In the course of her years of service, Doris received many awards. Among them were the Franciscan Health Care Humanitarian Award, the Seattle Post Intelligence Jeffersonian Award, the Rotary Club of Tacoma Community Service Award, and Puyallup's Woman of the Year. Doris delighted in flowers and birds and Mt. Rainier; she loved her family and her Catholic faith; she enjoyed sewing and oil painting and ice cream, but her favorite activity was helping people. Doris was preceded in death by Stan, her beloved husband of 58 years, her much loved daughter Janet Green (Gene), and her brother Glenn Leemon. She is survived by her children, Sister Patricia Michalek, OSF, Richard Michalek (Gwen), Kate Stevenson, Mary Melton (Wayne), Arlene Sambila, and Ken Michalek (Gwendolyn); eleven grandchildren, Darrel and Kristine Michalek, Michelle Av, Jeff and Tim Stevenson, Rob and Kelly Melton, Chris Green, Ty, Ryan, and Gary Sambila; and six great-grandchildren, Hannah and Emma Av, Jackson, Davis, and Jonathon Melton, and Taylor Rose Sambila. A rosary and sharing of memories will take place at All Saints Catholic Church at 204 6th Ave SW in Puyallup on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 7:00 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 30, at 10:00 at All Saints Church. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Viewing will take place 30 minutes before each service. The family thanks Madigan Army Hospital for its compassionate care in her last days. Donations may be sent to St Francis House at P.O. Box 156, Puyallup, WA 98371 Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tribnet/obituary.aspx?n=doris-michalek&pid=158245584#storylink=cpy