Nellie March

Nellie March, 85, of La Grande, died May 10.

A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 15 at the First Christian Church in La Grande. A viewing will precede from 9 a.m. until noon at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Restlawn Cemetery in Salem.

Nellie Stella Antonichuk was born July 1, 1922, to John and Stella Antonichuk at home in Star City, Saskatchewan, Canada. She married Stephen March on July 18, 1944. Nellie and Steve emigrated to the United States in 1947 and made their home in Santa Cruz, Calif., and Eugene. Nellie moved to La Grande in 2003 after her husband's death.

Nellie went to school in a one-room schoolhouse and helped her parents raise her younger siblings along with working on the farm. Nellie's love of flowers, dancing, music, cooking and gardening and her pride in her Ukrainian heritage have been passed on to her children and grandchildren. Above all else, family was most important in Nellie's life.

Nellie was on of 11 children in a close-knit family that continues to have reunions in Canada every four years.

Survivors include three children and their families, Patricia March and Michael Mullett of Columbus, Ind., Randy and Jeanie March of Denver and Kevin and Anne March of La Grande; six grandchildren; and siblings, Peter Antonichuk, Paul Antonichuk, Rosalind MacKenzie and Patsy Perkins, all of Canada, and Al Anton of Dyer, Ind.

She was preceded in death by siblings, Mary March, Bill Antonichuk, Sam Antonichuk, Alexandria McRae and Harry Antonichuk.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of La Grande, or any local hospice organization.