Edna M. Chambers' Obituary
EDNA MAE PARISH CHAMBERS
Edna Mae passed away July 9, 2016 in Tacoma, Washington in the caring arms of her family and Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer. Edna was in such good overall health for her 93 years of age that she was asked to be a part of a national cancer research study. True to her caring nature, she participated in the study with the hopes that her contribution would help future generations fight the disease that had taken 3 of her children.
She was born December 8, 1922 in Omaha, Nebraska, spent her childhood summers with her four siblings on her grandparents farm in Texas. At an early age her mother taught her to play the piano, which she continued to enjoy through the rest of her life. She met her husband Robert Chambers at the age of 17 at the YMCA where her father acted as Athletic Director. Married at 18, she went on to secretarial school, was ‘top of her class’ at shorthand and typing and while Robert served in the Army during WWII, she assisted in the ‘war effort’ as a secretary in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.
After 76 years married to Robert, they left behind a large family legacy of 12 children, their first being born in 1942 and their last born in 1964. In the 22 years of giving birth, the world changed continuously but Robert and Edna’s love for each other and their children remained constant. She was a remarkable person, able to support her husband through 16+ years of medical school to become a neurosurgeon while raising their children to be kind, respectful, and true to themselves and others. From their 12 children together, came 36 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter.
Edna was a woman of many passions: she loved the color purple, she loved her family, she loved dancing, playing the piano and organ, gardening, Scrabble, crossword puzzles, bird watching and walking her faithful dog, Goldie, who is still waiting for her at the top of the hill. She was kind and gracious to all, easy to laugh, and a loving yet private person who possessed a natural courage to be joyful in hard times.
All of her life she was an active and athletic person. She took up bowling and won many trophies, but when she discovered golf (with her purple clubs and bag in tow) she found one of her true joys. When asked in later life what she thought was her most memorable experience, she remarked giggling, "My hole-in-one and my two eagles (two under par)."
Edna was a devote Catholic, a parishioner of Visitation Church where most of her children went to grade school. In 1970, Edna joined The Young Ladies Institute (YLI) and was a member until her passing.
Edna Mae is preceded in death by her husband Robert Morrison Chambers, sons Michael Chambers and Robert Chambers Jr., daughters Margaret Slaughterback and Barbara Card, her sister Barbara Norton, and brother LaVerne Parish. She is survived by her brother George Parish, sister Helen Seyfert and her eight children, James Chambers, Mary Chambers Little, Lawrence Chambers, Timothy Chambers, Stephen Chambers, David George Chambers, William Chambers, Patricia Hallmark Chambers, and several generations of grand children, all of whom thank her dearly for giving them such a wonderful life.
There will be a rosary for Edna 7:00 p.m., Thursday, July 28, 2016 and a Memorial Mass 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 29, At Visitation Church, 3314 S 58th St, Tacoma, 98409.
The Placement at Graveside will follow at 1:30 P.M. At Mountain View Funeral Home & Memorial Park, in the Rose Garden. A Reception to follow at the Oak Room in The Celebration of Life Center Building from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
There will be a Loving Celebration of Edna's Life in downtown Tacoma at Tin Can Alley, PJ Hummel & Company, 2620 East "G" Street from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to Hospice or to breast cancer research.
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