Lorraine Bernice Zabel's Obituary
Lorraine Zabel passed away peacefully on Feb 2, 2015 with her loving family by her side. She was born in Glasgow Montana to Herbert and Cecilia Knopp on Feb 15th, 1942 and raised in the Flathead valley. She was the oldest of 9 children and is preceded in death by Leona (Knopp) Cunningham and is survived by Gordon Knopp, Linda Smith, Lucille Treat, Raymond Knopp, Loretta (Knopp) Johnson, Gary Knopp, LaVonne (Knopp) Crawford.
She was a single mother who moved to the Seattle/Tacoma area with her 6 children to start a new life. She began her career as a medical transcriptionist and eventually working for Boeing as an Office Administrator.
Her passion in her earlier years was BINGO…OMG; she was so addicted it was driving us all crazy, when she wasn’t finding ways to go to Bingo she always had her nose in a book….you couldn’t get her attention. We learned very quickly that if you wanted something from mom, just wait until she went to sleep to ask, then permission was given, even to drive the car to the store under age.
When she purchased her home, the yard became her passion and she studied to become a Master Gardner……this was a very proud moment in mom’s life, as the disease was progressing, it didn’t matter whether she was right or wrong but anything to do with plants the fact was “I know what I’m talking about, I’m a Master Gardener”.
One Easter Sunday, daughter Diane won a pig in the “greased the pig” contest and giving the pig to her mom to raise in her back yard. Katelend (granddaughter) nicknamed her “Grandma with the Pig”. This nicknamed stayed with her to this day. She acted like she hated the name, but truly it made her feel special and she loved it.
She is preceded in death by her son Kelly Zabel (Debbie) , Survived by her children, Cheryl (Zabel) Doris, Diane (Zabel) Flahaut (Robert), Kenneth Zabel (Charlene) , J Zabel (Laurie), Tracy (Zabel) Hamilton (David) and 18 grandchildren: Kelly, Timothy, Kelly, Daniel, Samantha, Jacklyn, Kary, Natasha, Maria, Cralene, Katelend, Jason, Ashley, Brianna, Felicia, Darlene, Ashley, Rachel, Ryan, and Jade. She has 25 Great grandchildren.
Heaven gained the most beautiful angel, she truly will be missed, may you rest in peace mom.
Funeral Services will be held on Feb 10th , 2015
Celebration of Life at 3:30
Private Graveside ceremony at 2:30 for family
Mountain View Memorial Park
4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW
Lakewood, WA. 98499
The family is suggesting that in lieu of flowers , donations be made in Lorraines Zabel name to Pierce Conservation District
P.O. Box 1057
Puyallup Wa. 98371
In Memo: Lorraine Zabel (receipt for tax purpose include return address)
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