Ione Florence Gillette, 96, passed away peacefully in her sleep from this life to be with her Lord on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton. Ione was born May 23, 1911, in Coleraine, Minn., to Aldrick and Emma (Goodwin) Smith and lived there until she was five years old. The family moved back to Scanlon where they lived previously. In spite of a severe handicap from infancy, Ione attended school in Scanlon and Cloquet. She was united in marriage to Jay Gillette on May 16, 1932, and helped raise his six children. She was a homemaker her whole life. She enjoyed reading and, despite of her handicap to her right hand, was able to and loved to crochet. Ione was known for her doilies, sweaters, bedspreads and coats she crocheted for relatives and friends. She enjoyed traveling the country to visit relatives. Ione attended a great-granddaughter's National Softball Tournament in Kansas at 92 years old. They were the only four-generation family attending the Nationals. In 1965, Ione moved from Scanlon to Cloquet to live with her parents until they died. She stayed in Cloquet until it was necessary to move to the Carlton Nursing Home in October 2000. She was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church for five decades where she sang in the choir and an ensemble and was secretary for a few years for the Women's Fellowship. For the past few years she considered herself part of Grace Baptist Church, even though she was confined to her room. She will be remembered for her generous nature, strong will and inner spirit, wry sense of humor and strong faith.
Ione was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brother Chester, granddaughter Shelly Mae Gillette and all of her six step-children.
She is survived and will be greatly missed by two daughters, Ona Marie (Ralph) Yrjanson of Cloquet and Carmen (Victor) Bacigalupi, LaQuinta, Calif.; one son, Glen Chester (Judy) Gillette of Supply, N.C.; 15 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 16 great-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-great-grandchild; a nephew, Myles Smith of Ventura, Calif.; six cousins, plus several decedents from her step-children.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 23, from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. funeral service at Nelson Funeral Care, 1004 Cloquet Avenue, Cloquet, officiated by the Rev. Doug Green, followed by a time of reception in the fellowship room. Inurnment services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Hillcrest Cemetery.
The family has selected Nelson Funeral Care to assist them with arrangements. See their online guest book at www.legacy.com .
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August 22, 2007
- Cloquet, Minn.
