Gerald And Cardinal Obituary (1938

Our beloved mother and father Jerry and Helen Cardinal traveled to their heavenly home just days apart from one another. Gerald Thomas Cardinal passed away from a long battle with congestive heart disease on May 5, 2011 surrounded by his family members and holding the hand of his cherished wife. The youngest of seven, Jerry was born April 12, 1938 in Chippewa Falls, WI to Victor and Jessie Cardinal. He grew up helping his parents run the family resort on Long Lake in Port Orchard, and graduated from South Kitsap High School in1956.He later moved to Seattle and worked as a window dresser at Frederick and Nelson's, where he met his wife, Helen Smolich. A savvy businessman and entrepreneur, Jerry owned and operated the Union 76 station in University Place, WA, and later became and retired as a salesman in 1994. Jerry loved the outdoors. He enjoyed venturing out into the wilderness and exploring the many waterways around the Puget Sound. He developed and honed his best relationships, both in friendship and with family, around cool waters and warm campfires. Jerry valued family vacations in Eastern Washington, boating trips to the San Juan's, a good Mariner's Game, and very full glass of port. Helen Maria (Smolich) Cardinal passed away peacefully with her loved ones by her side on May 9, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. Even in her time of struggle, Helen kept a positive spirit and desire to care for her family. Born in Baker, OR on August 15, 1940 to George and Mandelena Smolich, Helen was one of thirteen children. "Mish", as her family lovingly named her, graduated from Baker Senior High School in 1958. Soon after, she moved to Seattle and worked as an elevator operator at Frederick and Nelsons. She met Jerry on that elevator, where she asked him, "Don't you ever smile?" Little did she know at the time, that the future would hold 51 wonderful years of smiles and laughter. After the two exchanged vows, Helen worked for Wells Fargo Bank where she retired after 30 years of service - just in time for the arrival of her first grandchild. Helen lit up a room with her smile and laughter. Her enthusiastic voice was unmistakable, as she had a way of making everyone feel as if they were the most important person she was talking to that day. She loved spending time with family and friends, creating beautiful gardens, baking cookies with her seven grandchildren, playing cards (often times suspected of cheating), holiday gatherings, and just "chit chatting". Her courageous and sometimes humorous fight against pancreatic cancer, and her will to live in order to relish every moment with her family and friends, will be an inspiration to us all. She loved to laugh and tease, even in the darkest of times. There were times of heavy laughter even when tears of sadness were streaming down the faces of family and friends. She taught the family to be resilient in the face of adversity. Retirement gave Jerry and Helen time to travel from coast to coast. They ventured to many warm destinations, but decided to call Bull Head City, AZ their second home. Like in every other experience in their lives, the two developed life-long friendships where much laughter and kindness was shared. Jerry and Helen are survived by: Their three children, Suzie Lopez (Ray), Andi Schatz (Corey), and Willy Cardinal (Katrina); their seven grandchildren, Desi and Jessica Schatz, Brianna, Brooke, and Bailey Lopez, and Thomas and Kate Cardinal; and many extended family members. A funeral mass and celebration of their life will be held on Monday, May 16, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Gig Harbor, WA. Please consider a donation to their granddaughters' Relay for Life team. You can find the information on the American Cancer Society: Relay for Life website under the team name "Bad to the Bone."