Mary Ellen Guimond, 84, a lifelong resident of Coeur d'Alene, died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, from complications related to Alzheimer's.

She was born to Harriet and Joseph Miller on Aug. 5, 1927. Early in her life, her family moved to a dairy farm at Mica Flats. One of her earliest memories was delivering milk with her father. Her mother delivered nine siblings.

She was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church and attended the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy. Her faith was central to her life. She made two pilgrimages to Venezuela late in her life.

She married James Francis Guimond after World War II and they adopted three children.

Attending night school, she earned an associate's degree from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in education from Whitworth. She taught elementary grades at St. Thomas Elementary, Sorenson and Borah schools. Many students will recall her smoking cauldron of Halloween root beer.

She was a passionate gardener and flowers seemed to love to bloom for her. When winter came, she quilted.

She is survived by three children: Lola Furber (Will) of Topsham, Maine, Brian Guimond of Spokane and Paul Guimond of San Diego; and by two granddaughters, Ashley Vance (Ryan) of Seattle and Danielle Guimond of Spokane. Her surviving siblings include: Kathryn Lake of Spokane, Frances Arnhold of Coeur d'Alene, Patsy Wuolle of Cataldo, Joe Miller of Spirit Lake, Harriet Lawrence of Council and Claire LeCocq of Coeur d'Alene.

She was predeceased by her husband, Jim Guimond, in 1996, as well as siblings Oren Miller, Jim Miller and Caroline Jo Miller.

A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene. She will be laid to rest at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery.

English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, has been entrusted to handle the final arrangements. Please visit Mary Ellen's online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.