Shelly Rupinski, 62

Shelly Rupinski passed away on March 14, 2014, and went to be with family and friends that have passed before her and is now in the arms of Jesus.

Shelly was born June 6, 1951, to Allen Pecor and Helen Jeanne Pecor at Providence Hospital in Wallace, Idaho. She attended school in the Wallace area while living with Leona Foster.

On September 6, 1968, Shelly married Gerald “Deak” Rupinski. They were married for 45 years. Shelly and Deak moved to the Coeur d’Alene area where their three sons were born. During the time Shelly was raising her three sons, she went back to school at North Idaho College and earned her GED diploma. It was a very important accomplishment for Shelly to get her GED.

For several years, Shelly worked at North Idaho College. She had an interest in the lives of others, and often talked about her admiration for the instructors she worked with. Shelly also worked as a highway contract carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, delivering mail in the Rockford Bay and Loffs Bay area. She made many friends both at the post office, and with customers on her mail route. Shelly's son now delivers mail on the same route, and every day hears from the people that she impacted with her kindness and friendly attitude.

Shelly’s strength of character was obvious in the many sacrifices she made while building her dream home on the Rathdrum Prairie, as she worked with her husband and sons to build it. She had an open door policy in that home as she welcomed family and friends - especially her son’s friends. As one of her son’s friends said after she passed, “Your mom was always there.” Shelly loved her boys, and was always there for them. She loved to watch her boys play sports during their high school days and never missed a game.

Shelly was always a defender of the underdog, and it was never more apparent than in her love of animals - both her own pets and those in the wild. One time she rescued a great horned owl that was caught up in a fence.

Shelly’s strength of character was never more evident than in her seven year battle with cancer. She had a tough life going from foster home to foster home, but you never heard her complain about it. She had the courage to face any battle, and she passed that courage and strength on to her family. In the end, Shelly just wanted her family to know how much she loved them. Her love for her family was never more evident than in her life time of love and sacrifice for them.

Shelly was preceded in death by her parents, Allen and Jeanne. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Deak Rupinski, of Rathdrum, Idaho; son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Kristin Rupinski of Post Falls, Idaho; son, Frank Rupinski of Rathdrum, Idaho; son and daughter-in-law, Darren and Angie Rupinski of Rathdrum, Idaho; sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Richard Griffin of Rose Lake, Idaho; brother, Roy Pecor of Yucca, Calif., grandchildren: T.R., Shania, Connor, Trevor, Trisha, Rowdy and Kage; as well as ten nieces and nephews; and her dog, Penny.

Shelly will be greatly missed by her family and friends because she was the corner stone of our lives. Above all, Shelly will be remembered for her courage, fearlessness and self-sacrificing way towards her family. Shelly requested that no service be held for her, so her family will honor those wishes and will not have any public service for her. She will be laid to rest at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America. Yates Funeral homes has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Shelly’s memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com