DePaolo, Genevieve H. (December 6, 1941 – January 27, 2022)

Genevieve DePaolo passed away suddenly on January 27, 2022 in her home at the age of 80. She was born in the Ukraine on December 6, 1941. After her father died early in WWII, she fled the Ukraine with her mother. She endured displaced persons' camps in Poland and Germany. The Catholic church sponsored her family's journey to America. On January 27, 1952 they arrived in New York, NY eventually settling in Metaline Falls, WA and later in Spokane, WA. She graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in 1961.

She and John DePaolo married on February 17, 1962 and raised their ten children in the St. Aloysius Gonzaga community. Her beloved husband John passed away in 2000. Genevieve is survived by her 10 children: Austin (Francesca), Stacie (Jeff), Sheila (Pat), John (Jeanette), Lucy (Bill), Joe, Toby (Amy), Jane (Ryan), Mary, and Nick. She was blessed with 28 grandchildren: Angelo (Meghan), Eddie (Tracey), Carl, Bella, Jordan, Stasha, Hayden, Francis (Alana), Andrea (Nichole), Hannah, Isaac, Nathan, Gloria, Caitlin (Rodrigo), Molly, Thomas, Colin, Fig, Iris, Ezra, Sam, John, Nora, Edmond, and Genevieve. And she had four great-grandchildren: Jules, Emmi, Lennon, and Hilda. She is survived by her three sisters Lucy Reiner, Katharina/Christy Zmyslony, Elsie Setzer, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Genevieve was deeply faithful and attributed the many blessings of her life to her devotion to God, prayer, and hard work. She was eternally grateful for her family – praying for each one of them every day – attending mass weekly and sometimes daily. Her Catholic faith and love of her family and friends were the cornerstone of her life and brought her refuge and joy.

Genevieve served tirelessly and without complaint to provide for her family. She worked at Gonzaga University for ten years, and later at St. Aloysius Educare/Montessori for close to two decades. She loved and cared for many children as if they were her own.

While raising a family, Genevieve was a part of St. Isaac Jogues' guild, and Marion Gordon's guild doing charity outreach. Her guilds collected clothes, sewed quilts, crocheted blankets, sold walnuts, and cared for many in need. As a full-time homemaker in the early years of raising her family, the guild was a place of fun and play, too – with two crazy cocktail parties a year!

She had an active rosary/prayer group and belonged to the Corbin Senior Center and the Red Hats. Playing games was a central part of her life and social connection. Her neighborhood card group will hold her place at the table. And her children and grandchildren will continue to connect over game-playing in honor of her legacy.

Her home was open and welcoming, like "Grand Central Station," she'd say. With a large family to feed, cooking was not only a necessity of life but an expression of her love, generosity, and resourceful nature. There was always a place at her table, a big hug, a smile, and time for a game. She was a friend and confidant to many and genuinely enjoyed people.

Genevieve had an adventurous spirit. She loved a Sunday drive and traveled extensively all over the world with family and friends. She was kind, full of life and joy until her last breath.