Alette Appel Pringle was born June 28, 1943, in Portland, Ore., and died May 16, 2009, following a courageous 18-year battle with cancer.

Alette graduated from North Eugene High School and attended Marylhurst College, receiving degrees in Art and Communications. She loved her work, drawing on her many talents with children, art/illustration, public relations and landscape design. Among her life pleasures were spending time with her husband and family, gardening, art, books, pet sheep, collecting smooth beach-stones that felt good in her hand and the smell of spring.

Alette touched the lives of many people. There was never a person she met who wasn’t soon a friend. Even in her last days, she never complained of her pain, but worried about her family and friends and how she could be of help. She was a hero and inspiration to so many.

She leaves behind her devoted husband, Charlie; daughter, Megan; son-in-law, Rob; grandchildren, Gabriel, Lily Alette and Luke; daughter, M’Liss; son-in-law, David; grandsons, Ian and Zak; her brother, Doug, and his wife, MaryAnn Appel of Eugene, Ore.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Harold and Evelyn Appel, and her niece Heather Appel.

The family wishes to thank Alette’s ever-widening circle of friends who have supported her through the years with their prayers, and the physicians and medical staff in Virginia, Md., and the Pacific Northwest who worked tirelessly to help her. Your prayers have been answered. The pain and battle have ended. The fight is won.

Alette, we know you are in God’s beautiful garden in Heaven and are no longer suffering. Here’s to a life well-lived. Dance well, sweet lady. We love you Alette, Wife’, Mom, sister, friend, Grandma-Charlie, Mom-Mommy.

A Memorial Mass and Celebration will be held Tuesday, May 26, at 1 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 555 SE Regatta Dr., Oak Harbor, WA 98277.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Alette’s name to the American Cancer Society.