Our dear mother, Vernelle Viola Jech, passed away on Thanksgiving Day, after a relatively brief period of increasing frailty. She died peacefully at home, in her sleep, in her favorite chair, and with attentive loved ones close at hand. She was 99.

Mom was a lovely lady. She was smart. She was capable. She was classy. She had people skills. She had no vices.

She was also very tender- hearted. She was sentimental. Mom would always say how much she grieved for her late parents, Ernest and Josephine McLaughlin.

Like her parents, and even her grandparents, Mom was a local girl. She married the late architect Randolph Jech, another local, and within the context of a lengthy marriage, they had three children: Dr. Randall Dennis Jech (OD), Dr. Jeffrey Alan Jech (DMD) , and the late Karen Lynne Jech (38 year Administrative and Human Resources Manager at the Skagit County Community Action Agency).

Mom had seven grandkids: David Harris, Brianna Harris, Laura Harris, Jeffrey Andrew Jech, Valerie Karen Jech, Jefferson Duane Jech, Rosella Catherine Jech. Mom, also, had two great grandkids: Mason Harris, and Whitney Harris.

Mom was the epitome of what a loving mother should be. She devoted her life to her children, and we loved her for it.

Mom is in Heaven now. No one could deserve it more. She is in Heaven with her little girl, Karen. She is in Heaven with her Mother and Father.

Someday, God willing, I hope and pray that I will be worthy enough to join them there.