Regina Mary Petrich

Obituary Regina Mary Petrich Regina died in her apartment in University Place, WA, October 6, 2011 at the age of 56. She was born on October 10, 1954, in St. Joseph's hospital in Tacoma, WA. Regina learned personal living skills, how to write her name and to sign at Buckley School in Buckley, WA. She later moved into a group home in Tacoma, WA, and soon advanced to apartment living with support from SLA and most recently Ambitions. Regina worked many years for a janitorial service and later Goodwill from which she retired. Living a life filled with work, friends, family and wonderful loving caregivers, Regina enjoyed coffee, cafés and restaurants, attending family gatherings, vacationing in Disneyland, shopping and her apartment where she loved to cook clean and spend time with her good friends Doug, Dan, Danny and David. Typically, she spoke her mind without words but clear intentions. This last Christmas she had a wonderful time and we noticed her increasing efforts to verbalize and form words. Regina loved beautiful things and had a special appreciation for art and music and like her father, she loved to dance. We think of her now surrounded by her loving family and friends who passed away before her especially her longtime companion Bill. Regina was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Regina (Jean) Clark, her father, Martin A. Petrich, Jr., her older sister Susan Petrich Emerson, her nephew Ben Petrich. She is survived by her brothers, Martin (Suzy), Joe (Suzanne) and George (Kathleen), and her sisters Ann Sloper, and Catherine Petrich., her brother-in-law Tom Emerson, her Uncle Frank Clark her Aunt Sister Mary Ellen as well as 3 nephews and 5 nieces and many cousins. A Vigil will be recited Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 7:00 pm at Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass will be recited Thursday, October 20, 2011, 12:10 pm at St. Leo Catholic Church. The family wished to thank Ambitions, their caregivers and staff for consistent care, love, and attention. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are encouraged to make a donation in Regina's name to: L'Arche Tahoma Hope, 12303 36th Avenue East, Tacoma, WA 98446 | (253) 535-3178 | Fax: (253) 539-9208 | info@larchetahomahope.org.