LAIROLA MALERNEE Obituary

Lairola Vencil Malernee was born May 28, 1924, in McElmo Canyon, near Cortez, Colorado. She completed six grades of school in a one room country school, and then attended Cortez High School, participating in band and drama. She played piano, was editor of the school newspaper and graduated Valedictorian of her senior class. She received her BA degree, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Colorado, and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary.

Lairola and Clarence Malernee were married while he was in Navy Midshipman's school at Notre Dame. They made their home in Schenectady, NY and Terre Haute, IN while he was employed by General Electric as an electrical engineer. Their three older children, Vencil Paul, Lillian and Camille were born. Later the family moved to Aberdeen, WA where he worked as supervisor of a Rayionairre pulp and paper mill.

In Aberdeen she edited a weekly newspaper column, taught French in the local school system, and published three books of poetry, her favored medium.

Youngest daughter Celeste, born prematurely, developed cerebral palsy with neurological damage. Lairola and Clarence devoted their lives to her care. After Clarence died and Lairola developed health problems, she and Celeste shared rooms in an assisted living facility in Redmond, WA. Lairola died December 1, 2014. She is survived by her daughters Celeste, Lillian, and Camille; her grandsons Paul and Eric; and granddaughters Megan Jennifer and Michelle; sisters Stephanie Vencil of Albuquerque, NM, Vivienne and brother-in-law Philip Kenyon of Cortez, CO and sister-in-law, Cherill Vencil, and very special nieces and nephews. Her son Vencil preceded her in death.

A memorial honoring Lairola's life was held at Oceanside Park, near Snohomish, WA, on May 2, 2015 for family and friends.