Jill Suzanne (Vulcano) Reed was born on Jan. 23, 1944, to Anthony and Wyllodene Vulcano in Concordia, Kan. The war was on and Anthony was serving in the U.S. Army, Europe.

Because of the war, baby Jill did not meet her father until he came back from the war. She only knew him through pictures and stories from her mom, grandparents, uncle Ladean and aunt Virginia.

It was a great reunion for the small family with the safe return of Anthony. The family settled, first in Des Moines, Iowa, then in Ankeny, Iowa. There the family would stay. Before long, Jill was followed by her sister, Jacque.

A perfect and old-time Midwest life filled up those years with idyllic hours spent on the grandparents’ farm where the two girls had countless days with uncles, aunts and growing numbers of cousins.

At an early age, Jill demonstrated a dynamic talent for the visual arts. By the time she entered high school, she had developed that driving reputation for her art work, which would be one of the core themes of her rich and productive life.

To the delight of the family, two more children were added: boys Marc and Mike. In quick order, the boys became a focus of the family and gave the girls lessons (Jill 11 at the time) in helping, parenting and love.

Through high school, Jill was the drum majorette, twirling her baton — sometimes with fire on the ends — at football games, parades and other community events. It was here that she began giving private lessons in baton, another theme that would continue through her life: small business in specific niche skills.

After high school, Jill went off for a time to art school in Denver, but returned to Ankeny where she went to work in a flower shop in Des Moines.

At this point, Jill and her high school sweetheart Jim Zimmer would marry; and Jim, with a degree in math, would find work in the aerospace industry. He landed a job in Florida with NASA. There, on Sept. 14, 1967, Jill gave birth to her firstborn, Nicholas.

Not long after that, Jim found work with Boeing in Seattle. The little family settled in various homes in the Puget Sound. Here Jill began taking classes from a classical tai chi instructor. This would be another theme in her life: teaching tai vhi.

During this time, their marriage ran aground with problems. So Jill, being the good mom she was, regrouped, with Nicholas only, and moved to Spokane.

There she held whatever jobs she could to keep Nicholas and herself in food and a place to live. Her mettle was tested, and in the middle of it, the quiet still voice of the Lord, Jesus Christ, was heard by Jill and she returned home to Him and her upbringing.

During this time, she met Marvin Reed who was returning from Europe and a failed marriage. The two began dating, and early on in Marvin’s teaching career they were married at St. Aloysius Catholic Church at Gonzaga University in Spokane.

In 1979, Marvin landed a job teaching at Coupeville High School. It was here, during their years in Coupeville, that they had their second son, Anthony, on Feb. 14, 1982, Valentine’s Day. Nicholas was 14 at the time, and fully embraced having a younger brother.

In 1985, Marvin began teaching in Oak Harbor; and because of Jill’s health, they moved to their third floor condo in Oak Harbor. The Oak Harbor Senior Center was opening and Jill began teaching tai chi, one of the very first classes taught at the center.

Jill’s systemic asthma began to play out in her body. It resulted in long term, often high doses of steroids. One problem led to another, to another, to another until her physical life was more and more difficult.

It was during this time that Jill felt the call to enter the Secular Carmelite Order. This would become another theme in her life: the contemplative, prayerful life of the Carmelite. After completing her formation into the Order, she lived as an isolate because of her health.

Icons and iconography began to interest Jill as well. And, as always, she delved into them thoroughly. Ten years later, under the tutelage of two teachers, both Russian, one living in Canada and the other from New York City, Jill had started writing icons: yet another theme in Jill’s life. The culmination of them can be seen at St. Augustine Catholic Church. On either side of the crucifix are two six-foot by three-foot icons, one of Mary, one of John. During the three years of writing them, Jill had breast cancer, had both breasts removed and still finished the icons before the dedication of the newly remodeled parish. To be exact, they were sealed the night before they were due for installation.

Jill’s recent five-month hospital and skilled nursing home stay was the end of a 30-year struggle with asthma and the medicine she had to take to stay alive.

Jill passed from this life on Jan. 30, 2016, at the age of 72. She fought the good fight; she finished the race; she was a witness to her faith to the end. She was at peace and is now before the Lord, singing his praises.

Jill’s memory will be continued, memories told by Marvin, told and retold to grandchildren, Brandon and Gabriel, her sons and their wives, Nicholas and Rimma and Anthony and Jennifer, plus her siblings and family who hold her forever in their hearts.

The rest of us will follow. Whatever she did, she did with absolute integrity, quality and commitment. We, her family, look forward to our fellowship with her in heaven. We love you, Jill.

Funeral mass was celebrated Saturday, Feb. 13, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Oak Harbor, with Rev. Paul Pluth, JCL as celebrant. Please visit Jill’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com