When she was still quite young her parents Marie and Christian Kosel decided to move the family to Moxee, WA, where they purchased a home and hop farm. Mom grew up in Moxee and graduated from Holy Rosary Catholic High School.
Our mother was an extremely kind, generous, caring and hard working woman. She always made time to help family and friends. She was also very talented; she played and taught piano and guitar. She also liked to paint and she took several water color classes at YVCC.
Joan married Lee W. Phipps at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Yakima in 1956. Together they had four children, Echo, Brenda, Vicki and Matt. They lived and raised their children here in the Yakima Valley.
Joan was a longtime member of Holy Family Catholic Church. Mom’s religion was very important to her and she instilled those values and beliefs into all of her children and grandchildren.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents Marie and Christian Kosel; her daughter, Echo Christine; her sister, Carol Payne; brothers, Larry and Ervin Kosel; grandson, Danny Phipps, and daughter-in-law Laurie Phipps.
She is survived by her daughters, Brenda DiPrete and Vicki Hagen; her son, Matt Phipps; grandchildren, Shani Funkhouser, Amber Funkhouser, Austin Plouse, Ryan Plouse, Erika Phipps, Raechel Phipps Crowe, Stacy Jo Hagen; and five great grandchildren. Mom is also survived by her beloved sister, Francis Vickie (Kosel) Maxwell of Yakima.
Mom’s family thanks the caring staff at Arbor House where she has lived for the last three years. We would also like to thank the caring nurses and staff at Cottage in the Meadow for their care and counseling.
Memorials in mom’s name can be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, or an organization of your choice c/o Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, November 21, 2016 at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home with a vigil starting at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at Holy Family Catholic Church. Concluding services will follow at Calvary Cemetery. To share a memory of Joan visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.
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