1939
Avis
2014
Avis Inbody
July 8, 1939 — December 9, 2014
Our mom, Avis Inbody, received a call, an offer that couldn't be refused, for an appointment from which she will not be returning. This offer comes with many wonderful rewards - a reunion with family and friends she has not seen in a long time. Our mom's call came on December 9, 2014 when she passed away from Alzheimer's.
She was born in 1920 outside of Williams, Montana on the Dr. Purdy place to James Harold (Hal) and Mary Abbie VanAuken. In birth order, she was the third child of eight children. After six girls, Hal and Abbie finally had a boy with the caboose being another girl. Their home was filled with music and song - we like to think that if they had been discovered earlier - they would have been famous like the Von Trapp family in the Sound of Music!
She attended grade school in a one-room country school in Agwam, Montana and attended Choteau High School in Choteau, Montana. On July 8, 1939 she married Leonard Connole. Leonard died in 1945. Mom along with her two small sons - Donald and Marlin -- moved to Seattle, Washington where she enrolled in beauty school. On May 29, 1947, she married Sidney Robbins and the family was blessed with two more lovely children - Diane and Sandra. In 1964 Sidney died. In August 1965, mom married Henry Helf and then we became a family of 5 children with another son, Mark Helf. In April of 1993, Henry died. On September 10, 2000, mom married Glen Inbody, who passed away in June 2013.
She had a life-long love affair with growing house plants, sewing for her daughters and grandchildren, designing her son's vestments, cutting her sisters' hair, making pies for the church bazaars and her grandchildren's favorite -- home-made raviolis, frying chicken, and sipping strawberry milkshakes on hot summer Montana days.
Surviving is her talented, warm and loving sisters, Jean DeRusha of Great Falls, Montana and Evyanna Connole of Helena, Montana; and her very gregarious and fun-loving brother, Milton VanAuken of Choteau, Montana. Mom has the best siblings, bar none. Her wonderful children: Donald Connole, Sumner, WA; Marlin Connole, Palm Springs, CA; Diane Tacke, Decorah, IA; Sandra Robinson, Missoula, MT; and Mark Helf, Los Angeles, CA. Mom adored her 10 grandchildren and was babysitter, chef, friend and confidant to them. Mom also welcomed 8 great grandchildren in carrying the family genealogy forward. In the end mom was blessed with two special caregivers, Kay of Country View Senior Care and her hospice nurse, Cindy.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Alzheimer's Association Montana, 3010 11th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101 and Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington Avenue, Missoula, MT 59801.
Father Marlin J. Connole, mom's son, will officiate her funeral service on Monday, December 15, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Choteau, Montana. Reception immediately following the services in the church reception hall. Private burial services will follow.
Alzheimer's took mom's body but it never graced her loving soul.
She was born in 1920 outside of Williams, Montana on the Dr. Purdy place to James Harold (Hal) and Mary Abbie VanAuken. In birth order, she was the third child of eight children. After six girls, Hal and Abbie finally had a boy with the caboose being another girl. Their home was filled with music and song - we like to think that if they had been discovered earlier - they would have been famous like the Von Trapp family in the Sound of Music!
She attended grade school in a one-room country school in Agwam, Montana and attended Choteau High School in Choteau, Montana. On July 8, 1939 she married Leonard Connole. Leonard died in 1945. Mom along with her two small sons - Donald and Marlin -- moved to Seattle, Washington where she enrolled in beauty school. On May 29, 1947, she married Sidney Robbins and the family was blessed with two more lovely children - Diane and Sandra. In 1964 Sidney died. In August 1965, mom married Henry Helf and then we became a family of 5 children with another son, Mark Helf. In April of 1993, Henry died. On September 10, 2000, mom married Glen Inbody, who passed away in June 2013.
She had a life-long love affair with growing house plants, sewing for her daughters and grandchildren, designing her son's vestments, cutting her sisters' hair, making pies for the church bazaars and her grandchildren's favorite -- home-made raviolis, frying chicken, and sipping strawberry milkshakes on hot summer Montana days.
Surviving is her talented, warm and loving sisters, Jean DeRusha of Great Falls, Montana and Evyanna Connole of Helena, Montana; and her very gregarious and fun-loving brother, Milton VanAuken of Choteau, Montana. Mom has the best siblings, bar none. Her wonderful children: Donald Connole, Sumner, WA; Marlin Connole, Palm Springs, CA; Diane Tacke, Decorah, IA; Sandra Robinson, Missoula, MT; and Mark Helf, Los Angeles, CA. Mom adored her 10 grandchildren and was babysitter, chef, friend and confidant to them. Mom also welcomed 8 great grandchildren in carrying the family genealogy forward. In the end mom was blessed with two special caregivers, Kay of Country View Senior Care and her hospice nurse, Cindy.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Alzheimer's Association Montana, 3010 11th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101 and Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington Avenue, Missoula, MT 59801.
Father Marlin J. Connole, mom's son, will officiate her funeral service on Monday, December 15, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Choteau, Montana. Reception immediately following the services in the church reception hall. Private burial services will follow.
Alzheimer's took mom's body but it never graced her loving soul.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Avis Inbody, please visit our flower store.
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