Marie Louise (Hendrickson) Courchaine Obituary (1943 - 2018)

Born Nov 27, 1943, Marie Louise (Hendrickson) Courchaine attended Lewis And Clark High School in Spokane, WA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Marie Louise (hendrickson) Courchaine.

Graduation Year	Class of 1962
Date of Birth	Nov 27, 1943
Date of Passing	Sep 27, 2018
About	COURCHAINE, Marie L. (Hendrickson) November 27, 1943 - September 27, 2018. Marie suddenly went to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 27, 2018. Marie was born in Spokane, Washington on November 27, 1943. She attended Jefferson and Franklin Elementary Schools and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1962. Marie attended Concordia College for two years then earned her BA degree at River Forest in Chicago before receiving her M. Ed. from Lesley College. Marie met the love of her life, Kenneth R. Courchaine in 1968 and the couple married on July 12, 1969. They were married for 49 years and raised three children while living in the Spokane Valley. Marie taught elementary school for 40 years. She began her teaching career at Spokane Lutheran then moved to South Bend, Indiana where she taught one year at Perley Elementary. Marie spent the remaining 37 years of her career teaching at Grant Elementary School in Spokane. During her career, she impacted thousands of students in the classroom and her influence continued throughout their lives. Marie never allowed a child to be left out or slip through the system. She was an exemplary teacher who held her students to the highest of expectations yet catered to and loved each student. A legend at Grant Elementary, Marie went above and beyond her call of duty-she bought lunches for students, created a Mother's Day Tea program for all students that brought families together, coached after-school athletics, and introduced her students to the Courchaine Dairy Farm by organizing field trips. Marie introduced her students to sports through her support of local teams such as the Washington State Cougars, Seattle Mariners, Supersonics, and Seahawks. She may have had a tiny Washington Huskies poster to show sportsmanship. Marie poured her heart into teaching, she was the perfect epitome of a teacher. Marie's other great love was her family. Her life revolved around her children and grandchildren's events-basketball, football, and baseball games, softball and soccer games, Hoopfest, grad night parties, birthdays, weddings, bachelorette parties, hot tub family nights, Christmas dinners and Santa Claus surprises, Santa cruises, Nutcracker Ballet performances, and numerous tea parties-Marie cherished it all! Marie loved to entertain and be entertained. She spent 15 years as a retiree in Arizona enjoying Mariners Spring Training, Super Bowl in Arizona, trips to Disneyland and Huntington Beach. She was fortunate to travel to Mexico, Tennessee, Kentucky, and acquired a taste for Mint Juleps and always had a palate for wine. She cultivated a passion for gardening and quilting. Her quilts were made for each of her children, grandchildren, and friends with love. Marie loved to laugh, and her smile was contagious. She loved God and modeled that for her family. She loved to "visit" and turn the TV off. Her heart was full of love and generosity. Marie, A.K.A. Merm, Grams, was a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, grandma, teacher, friend. She left us all too quickly, but we know she is smiling from above with a big glass of Cabernet, sunglasses on, and taking it all in. Marie Louise is survived by her husband: Ken; daughters, Kari Rockom (Pete), Kristen Wilson (Dave); son, Geoff Courchaine; grandchildren, Kendyll, Kayla, Zachary, Hannah, Nathan; cousins, Gwen Hovland, Cathy Spencer (Bill); Half-Sister, Alycia Meridth, and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death, father Ernest Hendrickson, mother Lorraine (Wiebers) Hendrickson; sister, Jean; brothers, Jim and Terry. No memorial at this time per Marie's wishes. Close family and friends will gather for a memorial at a later date. In lieu of flowers or other offerings, please consider making donations in Marie Courchaine's honor to Spokane's Grant Elementary School Students. Donations to: Team Grant c/o Marie Courchaine, 1300 E. 9th Avenue, Spokane, WA. 99202. Published by Spokesman-Review on Oct. 7, 2018.