Monica Theresa Schiller Dufault
(1917 – 2017)
Monica was born on June 15, 1917 in Walla Walla, Washington to Albert T. Schiller and
Elizabeth Martin Schiller. She entered into rest on November 27, 2017 at her home in Prosser. She was one of eight children and worked many hours on the family farm as well as in the household. She and her siblings walked two miles every day to and from school, attended Mass regularly, and prayed the Rosary daily as a family.
In 1935, Monica graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Walla Walla and then attended Beauty School. Her first job as a beautician was at the Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla where she worked for eight years. She then moved and worked in Yakima after meeting the love of her life, Leon, on a blind date. She eventually sold him her car, which sealed the deal!
They were married November 30, 1944. Soon after, they purchased a hop and grape ranch and moved to Whitstran/Prosser, Washington to farm. They remained in the Prosser area their entire lives while raising nine daughters, losing one to cancer in 1950, and were later blessed with another daughter, Vickie, in 1974. They continued to grow in their faith, work hard and play hard through the years. Every Saturday night they danced to Don Hughes at the Sunnyside Elks Club or The 30-70 Dance Club. Their door was forever open to relatives, friends and neighbors, always happy to be there for anyone and everyone! After forty years of farming they retired and expanded their travels, often wintering “down south”.
Monica was a designer of their beautiful new home in 1962, a generous hostess, talented cook (known for her famous cinnamon rolls), a gardener and canning queen. She continued giving perms and haircuts for family and friends. She was also involved with the American Cancer Society and Enological Society for which she and Leon enjoyed hosting fundraisers for many years.
Monica was very active in Sacred Heart Church where her ministries included; Altar Society, ironing the altar linens and priest’s vestments, cleaning the church and decorating the altar with fresh flowers from her garden. She did this for nearly thirty-seven years until macular degeneration took most of her eye sight. As she aged she continued to live life to the fullest, attending bible studies, prayer group, Adoration, and taking in the Mass and Holy Eucharist. Monica’s spirituality was deep felt, always praying, trusting the Lord and his His mother Mary and living her faith.
She loved listening to audio books, music, talk radio and TV (especially Lawrence Welk, Antique Road Show, local news and EWTN). She also enjoyed exercising, especially swimming, which she did on a daily basis with her swimming partner and dear friend, Lucille Root, until the age of 97.
Monica was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-one years, Leon; her parents; a daughter, Teena Marie; son-in-law, Jim Weaver; three brothers, John Schiller, Fr. Bernard Schiller, David Schiller; five sisters, Sr. Elizebeth Mary Schiller, Gertrude D’Hondt, Sr. Barbara Schiller, Margaret Dufault, and Alberta Beaulaurier; as well as sister and brother-in-law’s, Winifred Schiller, Henry D’Hondt, Conrad Dufault, Robert Beaulaurier, Sr. Esther Dufault, Annette Yeend, Myron Yeend and Emil Dufault.
She is survived by her children; Barbara Schell (Rich), Marilyn Swick (Greg), Beatrice Weaver, Esther Laurent (Kevin), Vickie Stewart (Jim), Katherine Konen, Leontine Hall (Jeff), Carolyn Dufault and Monica Anderson. She is also survived by twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren, who loved her dearly. She is additionally survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Marcel (Pete) and Dode Dufault and sister-in-law Carmel Dufault.
Monica was an inspiration to all with her unique intuition, unfaltering faith and never ending generosity. She touched numerous people in her lifetime. Thank you Monica, for being a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, friend and faithful servant. We love you and we will miss you.
Visitation is scheduled for Friday, December 1st, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM with Recitation of the Rosary beginning at 6:30 PM at Prosser Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 2nd at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Prosser. Donations may be made to Heartlinks Hospice, EWTN, Special Olympics Tri Cities, or Jubilee Ministries. You may leave a message for the family at www.prosserfuneralhome.com.