Monica Lynn Meckel, 65
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 4 hours, 34 minutes AGO
Meckel
Monica Lynn Meckel, age 65, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, passed away Sept. 23, 2026, at the Schneidmiller Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene.
Monica was born June 19, 1961, in Moscow, Idaho, while her father, Jim, was attending the University of Idaho. The Meckel family was originally from Coeur d’Alene, and when Monica was only a few months old, the family moved to Palmer, Alaska. She spent much of her childhood in Alaska, where she made friendships that lasted throughout her life. Monica was a talented skier, played the saxophone, and enjoyed camping trips with her family. She attended Lathrop High School in Fairbanks before the family eventually moved back to Coeur d’Alene.
Monica made her home on the Meckel family farm. She enjoyed the comfort and familiarity of her own space. A wood fire, a good book, her family nearby, and the everyday routines of home were some of the things she enjoyed most. She raised her two sons, James and Alec, there.
Monica worked for Idaho Vocational Rehabilitation until she was diagnosed with cancer. She was an avid gardener, and every summer her porch was filled with flowers and tomato plants. She also loved watching her grandson, Chevy, compete in school sports. Monica was an excellent cook and baker, something her father especially appreciated when she became his caretaker during the final years of his life. Caring for the people she loved was an important part of who Monica was.
Monica was preceded in death by her son, Alec; her parents, Jim and Janis Meckel; and her sister, Lenore. She is survived by her son, James Murinko; her grandson, Chevy Sharp; her sisters, Michelle Townshend and Laura Prado; and many beloved relatives from the Adams and Meckel families; along with the many friends she made throughout her life in Fairbanks and Coeur d’Alene.
A memorial service will be held for Monica at the Mica Flats Grange Hall, 7465 W. Kidd Island Road, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Oct. 16, 2026, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Please visit Monica’s online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.