Mrs. CHARLES J. (Virginia M. Frantzen) COURTADE 1909-2003

PALEN, FRANTZEN, COURTADE, OBERMAN

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/26/2003 at 21:02:17

Virginia M. Courtade

Telegraph Herald - Oct 5, 2003

Virginia M. (Frantzen) Courtade, 93, of Mountlake Terrace, Wash., formerly of Seattle, Wash., and Dubuque, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003, in Mountlake Terrace.

At her request, private family services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11, in Mountlake Terrace. The Bleitz Mortuary, Seattle, is in charge of arrangements.

She was born on Oct. 14, 1909, in Dubuque, daughter of John P. and Josephine (Palen) Frantzen. She was the middle of five children.

Her father was a longtime Dubuque attorney and was practicing law with Louis Fautsch prior to his death in 1938. Her mother was active in social affairs and charitable organizations. The Frantzen family resided at 1295 Alta Vista Street throughout Virginia's life in Dubuque.

She was educated at the former Visitation Academy and attended St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind.

In 1937, she went west on the train to Missoula, Mont., to marry Charles J. Courtade, formerly of East Dubuque, Ill. They resided in Missoula and then Spokane, Wash., until finally settling in Seattle in 1947. They maintained the same residence on Cheasty Boulevard in Seattle until moving to an Adult Family home in 2000.

Virginia was a devoted wife and mother to eight children. She was a wonderful homemaker, a tireless volunteer at the Catholic church and school and was always involved with neighborhood and local community. She was a prolific letter writer and maintained correspondence with many people for more than 50 years. She was an excellent Scrabble player. She also maintained contact with her group of Yahtzee friends for more than 50 years.

She enjoyed gardening and loved birds, flowers and her camel collection, which eventually numbered more than 600 individual camels.

Family and friends were most important in her life and she was always the first one there if someone needed help of any kind. No one ever heard her speak an unkind word about anyone. She was a devout Catholic and died peacefully with her rosary in her hands.

She was truly a kind, unique and unforgettable individual. All who knew her should feel blessed.

She will be greatly missed by her husband of 66 years, Charles, 93; her youngest brother, Paul Frantzen, 90, of ManorCare Health Services; her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by an elder sister, Madeline (Sister Mary Phillip, of The Order of the Holy Cross); an elder brother, John Frantzen; and a younger sister, Eunice (Frantzen) Oberman.

Memorials may be given to local Habitat for Humanity and Hospice organizations.