Ilda Marie Easterling's Obituary
Ilda Marie Easterling was born on March 10, 1921 in Montigny-le Tilleul, Belgium to Victor and Claudine Hembise Finet.
She passed away in St. Helens, Oregon on April 16, 2010, at the age of 89.
Ilda was raised and graduated from High School in Montigny-le-Tilleul. She moved to Paris in 1939 to pursue a career in modeling and fashion design. She was active in the French Resistance Movement in Paris during World War II. Ilda met Colonel Robert Quentin Easterling during the liberation of Paris. They were married in Washington D.C. in 1949.
She earned a BA in French and MA in Foreign Languages from the University of Utah. She also earned her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literature from Brighham Young University.
Ilda was a professor in the Foreign Language Department at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington for many years before retiring in 1991.
She moved to St. Helens in 2004.
Ilda traveled extensively throughout the world. At an early age her father nicknamed her Pigeon Voyageur Homing Pigeon.
Survivors include: 3 children; Michael Linda Easterling of Rainier, Oregon; Caroline Finet of Santa Barbara, California; Richard Dianna Easterling of Cedar Park, Texas; Sister Hughette Servais of Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium; Nephew Gerald Martine Finet of Brussels, Belgium; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Quentin Easterling and her brother Gustave.
Private inurnment will be in Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the Peace Corps.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.columbiafh.com..
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