Edna Corinne Amy Pankaskie, 80 of Kennewick, Washington, was welcomed to heaven peacefully in her sleep on Friday, April 8, 2005. She resided at the Guardian Angel Homes, Richland, WA for the past 18 months due to effects of Parkinson's Disease. Corinne was born on October 26, 1924; the thirteenth of seventeen children born to Elsie May Cline Amy and Lafayette Levi Amy, on the Amy homestead near Corydon, Indiana. She attended school in the nearby town of New Amsterdam, and spent her childhood as a farm girl enjoying the creek, trees, hills and valleys of the homestead. After finishing high school, she went on to Nurses' Training at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where she earned her RN degree shortly after the end of WWII. She then went to work as a nurse in Kenosha, Wisconsin. While working at the Nash now American Motors Corporation, she met and married Robert Kraft, who died from a brain tumor while serving in the US Navy. Corinne moved to the Tri-Cities after visiting sisters Carol Dean of Outlook, Washington and Della Funk of Sunnyside, Washington in the summer of 1950, and secured work at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, WA. There she met Philip P.J. Pankaskie, and the couple was married in 1954, then relocated with General Electric to Schenectady, New York, and San Jose, before returning to Kennewick in 1957. Corinne was a devoted mother to her three children, loving neighborhood nurse, leader of Cub Scouts, and aid in the Brownies, Girl Scouts, and Campfire Girls groups. As her children grew into their teens, she returned to nursing at Kennewick General Hospital, working all wards, but concentrating in obstetrics, where she delighted in assisting with deliveries and caring for new mothers. After her retirement in 1989, she worked as a volunteer at Planned Parenthood, and was an enthusiastic member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for many years. Corinne loved camping, especially at the beach or in the mountains where the blackberries and huckleberries were. A typical trip would find her digging for clams or fishing, cooking the family catch for dinner, and completing the meal with a wonderful fresh berry cobbler. She treasured her grandchildren, ''getting down and dirty'' on the floor with the little ones, and they enjoyed her immensely. Corrine was very creative, loved to sew, and could make almost anything from crafts and quilts to exquisite clothing. She loved her yellow roses, fuchsia rhododendron, and watching all of the birds that she could entice into her yard. Corinne was the cornerstone of her family, making certain that everyone stayed in touch, bringing everyone together for holidays and family events. She is survived by husband Philip J. P.J. Pankaskie, and three children: Karl and Debra Pankaskie of Walla Walla, Washington; Thomas and Cindy Pankaskie of Auburn, Washington; Carol and Steve Wuerl of Richland, Washington; five grandchildren: Michael and Ashley Pankaskie, Matthew and Rachel Pankaskie, Geoffrey Wuerl; five sisters and one sister in-law: Mrs. Inez Russell, Indianapolis, Indiana; Mrs Jean Fieg of Corydon, Indiana, Mrs. Alice and Bud Harvey, Danville, Indiana; Mrs. Audrey Gehlbach, Corydon, Indiana; Mrs. Lorraine and Jim Nichols, Rockport, Indiana; Dr. M. A. Kraft, Wisconsin and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews

Corinne is preceded in death by her parents, sisters, and brothers: Carol Conrad, Ambrosia Hughes, Della Funk, Dudley Amy, Benjamin Amy, Sidney Amy, Lily Amy, Levi John Amy, Mary Ann Gustin, Peggy James, and Dixie Amy; and some cousins, nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed, for she touched many people with her kindness, generosity of spirit, easy sense of humor and wry wit. She was exceptionally considerate of others, and rarely complained of her deteriorating physical condition. A special thank you goes out to Carol Allenbaugh and her wonderful loving staff at Guardian Angel Homes in Richland whose care and devotion eased her passing; and to Tri-Cities Hospice; Dr. Clarence D. Washington and staff, and Dr. Michael J. Pattillo and staff. Much gratitude and love goes out to her Beta Sigma Phi sisters, Ex-POW Veterans, the Bethel Women's Ministries, Alice Shaffer reading books to her, and friends for their support of her family and the visits that she so enjoyed. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Einan's Funeral Home, 915 By-Pass Highway, Richland, Washington. Ashes will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

Remembrances may be made to Florida Hospital Foundation for Parkinson’s, 2809 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32804; email: www.foundation.floridahospital.com and to the Hospice Services- Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat Avenue, Kennewick, WA, 99336.