Lillian Eleanor Harwood

Our beloved mother, Lillian Eleanor Harwood (Oakes), aged 90, was born in New Haven, CT, on June 12th, 1927, to Swedish emigrants, Amy and Henning Frantz.  She passed away March 4th, 2018 with her daughters by her side. Lillian graduated from East Haven High School in June 1945. She then enrolled at Larson Junior College, from which she graduated in June 1947 with an associate degree in Arts. After graduation, Lillian and a girlfriend traveled throughout New England by bicycle, staying in youth hostels along the way.  In the spring of 1955, Lillian met her future husband, F.H. ‘Bud’ Oakes, at a social event in Providence, RI.  After a whirlwind courtship, Lillian drove alone across the country from Connecticut to Spokane, where she and Bud were married.  Lillian spent the next 30 years as a homemaker and mother to her three children in the Chester Hills neighborhood of Spokane Valley. Lillian was very involved with her children, their friends, and the neighborhood as a whole.  Consequently, her house was always bustling with activity. She hosted campfire girl meetings, attended every band concert, football game, or recital that included her children, and provided transportation to and from countless field trips, roller skating and pizza parties. To her children’s chagrin, Lillian once convinced the band leader at Bowdish Jr. High to march the band to her house so she could provide them all with Kool-Aid and cookies. Lillian was an avid gardener, baker and huckleberry picker. She enjoyed hunting for new huckleberry patches in the hills surrounding Priest Lake, ID, and was known for her excellent jam, muffins, and huckleberry treats.  Her kitchen was truly the heart of her home.  Following her Swedish sense of hospitality, anyone who stopped in for coffee or a visit was fed, whether or not they were hungry.  Politely declining or saying ‘no thanks’ was not an option with Lillian. Her favorite recipe, huckleberry cream cheese pie, remains a family tradition. She was also an avid bridge player and loved hosting bridge parties and socializing with her treasured bridge lady friends. After her marriage ended, Lillian met and married Richard (Dick) Harwood in 1987 and moved to Coeur d’Alene, ID. In addition to numerous great-grandchildren, Lillian is survived by her daughters, Amy Oakes Finkel (Misha) and Laurel Oakes Campbell (Herb), both of Spokane Valley, and by her son, David Ben Oakes of Tacoma, WA.  She also leaves behind beloved granddaughters Rebecca Chadwell and Elizabeth Campbell, and grandsons Sean Campbell (Nicholle), Brandon Oakes (Michelle), Patrick Oakes, David Finkel (Ben) and Joshua Finkel. Graveside services will be held at 12:30 PM on Monday, March 12th at Pines Cemetery, 1402 S. Pines, Spokane Valley, WA 99206.  A reception following the service will be held at the Finkel home, 11116 E. Ferret Dr, Spokane Valley, WA 99206. The family wishes to express sincere appreciation to the caring staff at Orchard Crest Retirement Community, who treated her like the great lady she was, and to the Hospice nurses who helped ease her way along the path to her last journey home.