Emilie Ida Hadaller, beloved mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home in Chehalis, Washington, on May 25, 2024. She was 90.
She was born Aug. 24, 1933, in Zug, Switzerland. In 1952, Emilie immigrated to America on the R.M.S. Mauretania, which docked at Ellis Island. She came to Washington state to work for her aunt and uncle in Harmony to pay off her trip fare.
In 1953, she married Richard Hadaller at St. Ives Catholic Church in Harmony. They made a home in Harmony and raised four children. Emilie learned to read English by reading all the books that her children brought home from school.
Emilie did seasonal work at the Cowlitz Trout Fish Hatchery marking fish and at Sherwood Forest making wreaths and garlands. For 25 years, she worked at Weyerhaeuser greenhouses growing seedling trees.
After retiring, she volunteered at elementary schools in Chehalis and Centralia listening to students read, and helping them with math and art projects. Many of the students referred to her as “grandma.”
She loved going to her grandchildren’s games and events. She even started soccer practice when the coach was late arriving. She assisted with goats and elementary art at the Lewis County Youth Fair and helped with Cub Scouts and behind the scenes for Boy Scouts.
In her free time, she enjoyed traveling back to Switzerland, and visiting Reno and Canada with her local family and visitors from Switzerland.
Emilie knit beautiful sweaters, beanie hats and socks for her children and grandchildren, as well as for local elementary school children. Tending to flower gardens was also a lifelong passion.
Emilie was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in 2018, but she always had a ready smile and seeds of wisdom for people. She loved to discuss the Bible, and she was a great listener. She was an amazing lady and will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her four children: John Hadaller, Jim Hadaller, Julie Hadaller and Thomas Hadaller. She leaves behind five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
We wish to thank Osbourne Cancer Care for helping mom have six more years, Chehalis Physical Therapy for giving her the strength and joy to keep fighting, Lori McGee and Palliative Care for helping us transition to hospice, and Katie Madrid from Hospice and Christina Jarvis and Debbie Kaech from Catholic Community Services who taught us how to take care of mom better.
Arrangements are under the care of Sticklin Funeral Chapel. A private service of committal will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at Claquato Cemetery.
