Josiane Donahoe, 46, formerly of Libby
Josiane Ellen Lamorie Donahoe, 46, passed away March 23, 2012, at her home in Sandpoint, Idaho, with her loving family at her side after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Josie was born Oct. 11, 1965, in Portland, Ore., to Vickie (Martin) and John Karbo.
She was raised and educated in Libby, Mont., graduating with the Class of 1983. She later went on to study at Minot State University and received her bachelor’s of science in nursing from Northern Idaho College in 1997.
Josie was a dedicated and compassionate nurse and worked at several care centers including the Libby Care Center, Achievements, Inc. in Libby, and the Pinewood Care Center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
After a long and loving courtship, Josie married her best friend and husband, Terry Donahoe, on Aug. 22, 2009, in Las Vegas.
Although their time together was short, they shared many happy and memorable hours on the Pend Oreille River, where they shared their lakeside home.
Josie had a vibrant spirit and a loving presence. She had a gift of being able to tell things as they were and was an inspiration to her family and friends. She will be fondly remembered for her amazing sense of humor and her ability to laugh at herself.
Her hobbies included crafting, of which she was a master at all she attempted. From knitting, crocheting, tatting and needlecraft, she had the skills of soul many times her years. She was a treasure seeker, enjoying the hunt as much as the find, always seeing purpose and beauty in her finds, whether it be the arrowheads discovered while walking along the river’s edge , or the seashells collected along the Pacific Coast with her best friend, Kim, on a recent vacation.
Her greatest passion was the love she had for her daughters as she followed Megan’s progress through college and onto law school and watching Lexie develop into a beautiful and amazing young woman, likely to delight us all with her dramatics for years to come.
Although weak and recovering from surgery, she willed herself to be present on the day Megan and Michael were married in June 2010, a day, without question that brought her one of our greatest moments of pride and joy.
Josie is survived by her husband Terry of Sandpoint, Idaho; mother Vickie Judkins of Libby; daughters Megan (Michael) Scott and Lexie Palaniuk of Phoenix, Ariz.; brother John (Michelle) Lamorie of Cheyenne, Wyo.; father-in-law Anthony Donahoe of Sandpoint, Idaho; stepchildren Robert Fox of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Shelby Donahoe, Cody Donahoe and Hunter Donahoe of Sandpoint, Idaho; nieces Connor Lamorie, Madison Lamorie, McColloh Lamorie of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and sister-in-law Terri (Garry) Carpenter of Cheyenne, Wyo.
She is also survived by half-sisters Desi Freeman and Callie Lamorie of Post Falls, Idaho; step-brother Doug Lamorie of Portland, Oregon; as well as numerous cousins and many treasured friends.
She was preceded in death by her fathers, John Karbo and Neal Lamorie. She will forever remain in our hearts and we will be comforted knowing that her pain and suffering has ended and she shall live eternally in the arms of her Lord, with whom she shared a special and private bond.
A celebration of Josie’s life will be held at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Lincoln County Relay for Life, c/o Judy Bloomer, 495 Mahoney Road, Libby, Mont., 59923; or Community Cancer Service at 1215 Michigan Street, Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Josie’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.