Georgene Ann Sanchez, 83, passed away on July 15, 2024, at her home in East Raymond.
Georgene was born on Jan. 11, 1941, in Wilmont, Minnesota to George and Julia (Schweitzer) Sieve, the fifth of six children. The Sieve family was (and still is) a large farming family, and that upbringing helped develop Georgene’s tremendous sense of responsibility and diligence.
She graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Wilmont in 1959 and earned her RN at Presentation Nursing College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1962.
While Georgene was in nursing school in Sioux Falls, she met Alfonso (Bud) Sanchez. They married on July 24, 1964, and together they started to move westward, living for short periods of time in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho before moving to Soap Lake, Washington in 1966. They moved to the Willapa Harbor in the fall of 1968 to live and raise their family.
Georgene’s career was a distinguished one. She worked as a long-term care nurse her entire career — she filled many positions, including CNA instructor and director of nursing during her over 30 years at Willapa Harbor Care Center. During that time, Georgene was known for her compassion and tireless work ethic while supporting and advocating for the residents and their families (as well as her staff) before “retiring” in 1998.
Her retirement was short lived when she took on a nursing director position at the Alder House assisted living facility in South Bend for another 10 years. Her second attempt at retirement lost out to her desire to help as she went back to pick up shifts part time at Willapa Harbor Care Center before her final retirement in 2012.
Georgene’s leadership and spirit influenced so many to move into nursing careers of their own, solidifying her legacy in the nursing profession.
Georgene was a devoted supporter of her family’s activities, traveling all over the state to support her children’s and grandchildren’s academic and athletic endeavors. She loved caring for her vegetable garden and flowers and going to the casino with Bud.
She is survived by her husband Alfonso of Raymond, son Tom (Jackie) Sanchez of South Bend, daughter Julie (Josh) Jewell of Raymond, son Rich (Lora) Sanchez of South Bend, daughter Jenny Sanchez of Raymond, and daughter Angie (Josh) Bagley of Spokane; sister Rose (Joe) McGrath of Northfield, Minnesota; 16 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 3 p.m. at the Raymond Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Willapa Valley Scholarship Fund, South Bend Scholarship Fund, or the Raymond Scholarship Fund.
