July 31, 1926 - January 21, 2021
Juanita Carole Schell passed away peacefully on January 21, 2020, at the age of 93 in Spokane Valley, WA. Juanita was born in Newark, New Jersey to Emanual David and Carolyn Rita. She would fondly reminisce about growing up in a small, one bedroom apartment on the top floor of her grandparent’s shoe repair shop with her siblings -- Gloria, Virginia, George and Anne. After graduating from East Side High School in 1944, she worked at her Uncle’s Drugstore, and then in the Administration department of the Celanese Corp. Shortly after, she met her husband and love of her life Robert William Schell (preceded 2016) in Newark while he was on leave from the US Navy. The couple married on May 14, 1950 at Saint Benedict’s Catholic Church (Newark, NJ) and then traveled West by car. They built their first home - “the little green house on Denny Court” - in Spokane, followed by their second and final home in the Spokane Valley, and raised five children. Juanita worked in the men’s section of the Crescent/Frederick & Nelson department store (1974-1991) and later, as a “demo lady” in various grocery stores. Always with a smile on her face and kind words to say, she made many friends with coworkers and customers. Juanita is survived by her children Dale Schell, David (Linda) Schell, Diane (Borland) Schell, Roger (Carla) Schell and Allison (Tim) Buckley, along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoyed hunting for “treasures” at antique and thrift stores, decorating her home during holidays, collecting dolls, hosting her grandchildren (always with a bowl of Lucky Charms or ice cream at the ready), keeping in touch with friends and family, attending mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and keeping up on a daily journal. Her warm hugs, phone calls, letters, stories and generosity are dearly missed. Rest in Peace with Dad. Internment at Pines Cemetery in Spokane Valley, Washington.
