Rosemarie (Punky) Borte, 75, died July 10, 2023, at home after a battle with cancer. Punky, as she was known to family and friends, was born to Maggie and Leo Borte on May 16, 1948. She was the second born of a large boisterous family of 12 children and grew up in Centralia, Washington. After attending St. Mary’s grade school and St. Mary’s Academy she went on to work for Bank Check Supply where she met many cherished friends. She later moved to the Seattle area where she worked for 20 years as a professional nanny, loving and caring for some very lucky kids.
Punky loved to travel and over the years traveled to some amazing places with family and friends and for work. An expert seamstress, she made pajamas and quilts and performed stuffed animal repairs for her nieces and nephews and the children she cared for. Around the holidays, she spent weeks baking her famous coconut and peanut butter balls along with cookie tins full of other sweet treats. Punky had a great sense of humor, was full of fun and loved to share it with her many friends and family.
She is predeceased by her parents, Maggie and Leo Borte; her sister, Marian Long; and her brother-in-law, Mike Huse.
She is survived by her siblings Barbara Middaugh, Joe Borte, Jim Borte (Brenda), Steve Borte (Fere), Donna King, Carol Borte, Linda Huse, Mike Borte, Joan Olsen and Tom Borte (Denise), along with many, many relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. July 24 at St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue.
Punky requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to St. Joseph’s Catholic School (scholarship in her name) 123 SW Sixth St., Chehalis, WA, 98532, the
Floyd & Delores Jones Cancer Institute at Virginia Mason, 1100 Ninth Ave., Suite G1-MSO, Seattle, WA, 98101, or Food Lifeline 815 S. 96th St., Seattle, WA, 98109.
