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Evelyn Montreuil

Evelyn Montreuil has gone to be with her savior, Jesus Christ, and her beloved husband of over 60 years, John.

Evelyn was born Feb. 17, 1925, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Henry and Mary Moormann. She attended elementary school at Saint Michael’s Grade School, where she first met the love of her life, John Montreuil, through his sister, Lena — who was Evelyn’s best friend. When Evelyn was 14, John took her to a church dance, and later to his high school prom. He then quit seeing her, because, being three years younger, he thought she was too young. After high school, Evelyn went into nurse’s training at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn., graduating in 1945.

Love was not to be denied. During her one trip back home during her second year of nurse’s training, Evelyn and John renewed their relationship, seeing each other every night while Evelyn was on leave. When she returned to Minnesota, John wrote to her almost every day. On Feb. 16, 1946, Evelyn and John were married in their childhood church in Los Angeles.

Shortly after getting married, Evelyn and John moved, sight unseen, to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, after hearing from her parents how beautiful the area was. Evelyn and John purchased five acres on the corner of Ramsey Road and Hayden Avenue, and built the family home from the ground up over the next five years.

Evelyn spent the early years of her marriage taking care of her growing family, but in 1964 she went back to nursing and worked at the Coeur d’Alene General Hospital, Coeur d’Alene Convalescent Center, and eventually, Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Wash. She worked in many departments, but loved working in labor and delivery and postpartum. From 1983 to 1990, Evelyn indulged her love of sun, sand and water by working during the winter months in Hawaii; first in obstetrics at Kapiolani Hospital, and then as a home health care nurse.

One of Evelyn’s great passions was the sanctity of life, and she worked tirelessly as an advocate for the unborn. She taught natural family planning through Panhandle Health and her church. She was also a board member of Right to Life of Coeur d’Alene and worked with Right to Life of Idaho. She was always there to help in any way she could and often organized events and marches.

Besides her family and the unborn, Evelyn’s other great passion was her faith. In 1963, John and Evelyn moved from Hayden to Coeur d’Alene, buying a house just a few doors from St. Thomas Church, a great benefit to both her and John. She was active in the church, and often helped the priests with any medical treatments they might need. She was devout in her faith, never missing Sunday Mass. Her faith in Christ was unshakable and she truly looked forward to reuniting with God and her husband, John, in heaven. She was granted this final wish on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

Evelyn is survived by her sister, Patricia Rossmiller; her six children, Stephanie Brand, Kenneth Montreuil, Paul Montreuil, Michelle Hogeweide, Chris Montreuil and Tammy Perfect; plus seventeen grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.

A Rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 25, 2018, at English Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 919 Indiana Ave., Coeur d’Alene. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Right to Life of Coeur d’Alene, P.O. Box 282, Hayden ID 83835. Please view and sign Evelyn’s online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.