Edna Clare Sentenne

Edna (Nitchie) Clare Sentenne, 84, of Bellingham, WA died Monday, August 11, 2008, surrounded by her family at her home in Washington state.

Nitchie, and her husband Jim, were most recently citizens of Highland, IL and Blue Springs, MO. When Jim died in 1989, Nitchie relocated to Mesa, AZ. There she spent many active, happy years enjoying golf, bridge, swimming and her wonderful friends. In 2003, she moved to Bellingham, WA.

Nitchie was a remarkable woman who enjoyed life to its fullest and was admired and loved by all who knew her. She was a pioneer in woman’s right to work and be financially independent. She attended college for several years and in the early 1940’s, began a career as a legal secretary in St. Louis, MO. World War II interrupted that; however, after her children were in school in 1959, she returned to the workplace at Ziegler’s Jewelry in Highland, IL, and later had a successful career with the Teamsters’ Union in Missouri. She was an independent and courageous woman and her family and friends will sorely miss her.

She is survived by her sister, Angie Robinson of Chicago, IL; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Janean and Paul Monroe of Brownville, ME, Jackie and Ed Pettit and Michelle Sentenne of Bellingham, WA; her five grandchildren, Michael, Matthew, and Jonathan Burk of Chicago, IL, Masa Pettit-Clements of Austin, TX, and Brodie Pettit of Olympia, WA; her ten great-grand children, Jack, TJ, Mikey, Tommy, Lucy, Annie, Madisyn, and Mia Burk, and Tucker and Madigan Pettit-Clements.

Nitchie’s family will hold a private celebration of her life.