Elaine Dienstbier EDDY

Elaine Dienstbier Eddy, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, died on January 16, 2013 following a brief illness in Tacoma, Washington. Mrs. Eddy, a long time resident of Grand Junction, Colorado, was born September 21, 1921, to L. Lester Dienstbier and Bessie Helen Welna Dienstbier in Omaha, Nebraska. Following the death of her mother when she was five years old, she survived the Great Depression alongside her father and older sister, Bessie. Many difficult adjustments during that time forged her indomitable spirit of survival. She graduated from Omaha South High School in 1939. She married the love of her life, LaVerne Auxvasse Hunter Eddy, on August 22, 1942. They started their family, designed and built a house, while creating a loving, secure home. LaVerne was killed in an automobile accident on February 19, 1955, leaving her with two small daughters to care for and mold. She picked herself up, supported by caring friends, and enrolled in college to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. While supporting herself and her children, as a temporary typist, she graduated summa cum laude in June of 1960, with her teaching degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She taught in Omaha and then earned her Master degree in Guidance Counseling from Creighton University in 1968. Following that, she moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, to serve as a counselor at Grand Junction High School until she was struck with a terminal cancer in 1979. She fought and won that battle three years later. Released from her work, she took time to travel. She felt there was no education as grand as a bus trip! She had traveled to Europe and Mexico when she was newly widowed, and enjoyed that, but truly loved riding the bus where she could see the country up close and commune with the other passengers. She also enjoyed traveling the country around Grand Junction, exploring the Western Parks, attending Native Peoples ceremonies and seeing archeological cities. She was a life long learner; the only subject that stumped her was technology. She believed her cancer was cured by Alternative Medicine and researched that subject long after she was in remission. She attended a yearly conference in Pasadena where she met many people affected by cancer who became lifelong friends. She took care of herself. She supplemented her diet and ate what was good for her. Her main source of exercise was maintaining and enjoying her garden. Later in life, she took up swimming. Her roses were amazing and she gladly shared them with others. She was a charter member of the Religious Science Church, as well as a member of Unity Church and the First Congregational Church, all in Grand Junction. She held membership in the Museum of Western Colorado, the Colorado Retired School Employees Association, the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association, the Western Colorado Center for the Arts, the Soroptomists and the Mesa County Genealogical Society. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Vasel (Richard) of Tacoma, Washington, and Penny Coles (John) of Omaha, Nebraska, her neice Cathy Schwer (Larry), seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Laverne, her parents, her sister, Bessie Murcek, her nephew, Don Murcek, her grandson, Scott Vasel, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Graveside

March 11, 2013, 11:00 am