Ann-Louise Petrich

Obituary Ann-Louise Greiwe Winship Soper Petrich On December 4, 2009, one of Tacoma's great ladies passed to the next life. Ann-Louise Greiwe was born on February 21, 1921 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tacoma to Harry and Marie Connell Greiwe. The fourth of their six children, she attended St. Patrick's Grade School, Aquinas Academy (Class of '39) and spent a year at the College of Puget Sound. She volunteered at McChord Army Airfield where she met and eventually married a dashing young Army Air Corps aviator from California, John ("Dub") Winship in September of 1941. One day after their week-long honeymoon, Lt. Winship and his B-18 aircrew went missing on a local area training mission, and 2 weeks later the plane wreckage was found in the Olympic Mountains. There were no survivors. In November of 1943, Ann-Louise married another military pilot, this time a Naval Aviator from Tacoma and a friend since high school, Russ Soper. He was stationed in Brooklyn, New York, flying newly-manufactured airplanes to the West Coast. They brought their first child into the world in June of 1945, then moved back to Washington state after WWII was over. Their marriage produced three more children and lasted until Russ' death in 1970. The newly widowed Ann-Louise met and fell in love with a Tacoma lawyer who had recently lost his own wife. She and Jack Petrich were married at St. Patrick's Church in March of 1971. Jack brought six of his own children into the family for a total of ten. Besides her husband and children, Ann-Louise's passions included her Catholic faith, bridge, traveling, champagne, and living at their Fox Island beach house in the summers. She was an avid competitive golfer, and thoroughly enjoyed her years and friends at Fircrest Golf Club. Following college, Ann-Louise served on the national Pi Beta Phi sorority advisory board. Later she was active in Catholic Women's Club, serving as President for a year, and devoted 20 years of her life to bringing the Eucharist to patients at St. Joseph's Hospital. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Marymount Home for retired Dominican nuns. Survivors include her husband of 39 years, Judge John A. "Jack" Petrich, children Wesley "Skip" (Sue) Soper of Federal Way, Marianne (Jeff) Short of Tacoma, Sally (Jim) Dwinnell of Yakima, Patrick (Debbie) Soper of Grapeview, Peter (Mary) Petrich of Tacoma, Jane Petrich of Kodiak, Alaska, Nora Petrich (Jim Maupin) of Port Townsend, John Petrich, Jr. (Joanne Liantonio) of LaConner, David (Jenise) Petrich of Tacoma, and Elizabeth Petrich (Allen Pleus) of Olympia. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Jane Moosey and sister Betty Weaver. She is also survived by her brothers Richard ("Dick") Greiwe of Tacoma, Paul Greiwe of Palm Desert, California, and William ("Bill") Greiwe of Washington, North Carolina, 25 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. A memorial mass will be held on Thursday, December 17th at 12:30 pm at St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma, followed by a reception/celebration at Slavonian Hall on 30th Street in Old Tacoma. A private burial service was held this past week. Donations can be made in Ann-Louise's name to Bellarmine Preparatory School or Franciscan Hospice House. The family especially wishes to thank the staffs at Tacoma General Hospital, Allenmore Hospital, and Orchard Park, for their extraordinary efforts in helping the family cope with the final week of our mother's life. Please leave online condolences at www.GaffneyCares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.