Enduring Friendships
Leona (Nordstrom) Pinney lived at Cascade Plaza Assisted Living for over 5 years, but in that 5 years, she was joined here not only by 1 friend, but 2 friends! One she’d known since 1933! A remarkable 78 year friendship.
Three friends: Leona, Fern and Elphye, each one from different parts of the country.
Fern came to Kirkland in 1933 from California with her family of 11. She started school at Kirkland High School as a sophmore. One of her closest friends was classmate, Leona Nordstrom. Fern recalled a friend of theirs, Hester. Hester’s father promised he’s buy Hester a car if she’d quit smoking (and this during the Depression; can you imagine what that offer meant at that time?) She did quit (at least long enough to get the car) but promptly started up again. She got to keep the car though. Hester often piled 6 or 7 or her girlfriends, including Fern and Leona, into that car and off they’d go every Friday night. The school’s basketball games were favorite destinations and the girls were always ready for an opportunity to cheer their high school team on.
When they graduated a few years later, Fern and Leona didn’t stay particularly close; life took them on different paths. Fern attended the UW, moved back to California and worked for Lockheed, eventually returning to Kirkland to be near her family. By that time, Leona had started working at the (then) small town of Kirkland’s main department store, JC Penney. The two of them would visit over the counter, catching up on each others latest news.
The JC Penney store brought Montanan Elphye into Leona’s life as well. They both started working there in the early 1960′s. Sales”girls”, they worked together for 19 years; Elyphe in the fabric Department and Leona in the Men’s Department until she evenutally retired.
After saving money from their $1.89 an hour pay, and using JC Penney’s savings program, they accumulated the $1800.00 they needed to take a trip to Europe together. Love of travelling was part of Leona’s life and she later made several more trips to Europe and Sweden.
Even their kids; Elyphe’s son, Bern and Leona’s daughter, Barbara were school friends.
Time passed, they went their separate ways as friends sometimes do, but in 2007, their paths crossed again. It was early in 2007 when Fern moved into the Cascade Plaza community. Then came Leona and by late 2007, so had Elyphe! Old friends reunited once again. They often spent afternoons together, visiting and reminiscing about their younger days and adventures.
Sadly, Leona passed away a short time ago. But her friends continue to reminsce…although now without Leona, they reminsce about Leona.
“She was very gentle and neat” remembers Elphye. “And she was a great housekeeper!”
Fern recalls Leona as being “A straightforward lady and always willing to do whatever needed doing. She was just a great gal.”
We couldn’t agree more…
