Juliana Marie (Nelson) Parker, 82
Juliana Marie (Nelson) Parker, 82, passed peacefully into eternity on Oct 8, 2021, while in the loving care of her family of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
She was born in the central Wisconsin village of Cadott on Dec. 15, 1938, the eighth child of 15, to Hiram and Barbara (Brunner) Nelson. She attended St. Joseph's Catholic School, receiving a fine education from the nuns she came to love and respect.
The family moved to Kalispell, Mont., while she was in her mid-teens, and later she worked in Missoula, where she met and married a forester, Melvin G. Parker, in the late 1950s. Six children were born of this union and survive her: David (Kim), LeAnne (Josh) Bennett, Lisa (Mark) Ourada, Paulette (Bill) Rice, Danette (Frank) Brown and Teri (Chris) Amoth.
She and her family lived in Libby, Mont., for a while, on a 160-acre ranch at Rock Creek in Bonners Ferry, and also at Highland Flats before moving to Post Falls in 2015 where Juliana spent the last years of her life.
Experiencing life as a single mother, she faced difficult times as she worked to support the family she loved with her own secretarial business. Nothing was too great a sacrifice for her children; she encouraged and pushed them to excel at persevering in life and with projects. She always put her children first, as each one felt special, and even unconventionally letting a son build an airplane wing (a real one) in the living room — a creative solution during winter. Her positive outlook combined with her devotion to the Holy Rosary, her spiritual lifeline, gave her strength to be fearless and accepting of problems and challenges. After retirement she settled into a life of gardening, sewing and cooking for family, and especially enjoying her grandchildren as they grew up around her. She became, for many of them, a role model and example of great love and charity, passionate for true justice, and acknowledger of God and His goodness.
She is survived by her six children; 35 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; and siblings Gerald, Aloysius, John, Mary, Vincent, Patricia, Dennis, Barbara and Daniel. She was preceded in death by her parents; Melvin; and siblings Paul, Kenneth, Allen, Judith and Odelia.
Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, at Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, with recitation of the Holy Rosary at 4 p.m. A traditional Sung Requiem Mass will be offered for the repose of Juliana’s soul using the 1962 Liturgy at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4772 E. Poleline Ave., Post Falls. Interment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls.
Arrangements are provided by Yates Funeral Home. An online registry and condolences may be found at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.