Jill Frances Lombardi

Jill was born Sept. 10, 1943, in Minot, to Cyrel and Alvina (Jacques) Butz. Jill graduated from Bishop Ryan High School in Minot in 1961 and the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn., in 1965. Jill wed Vincent H. Lombardi on June 26, 1965.

During the early years of their marriage, Jill and Vince resided in St. Paul, Minn., where their four children were born. Subsequently, they lived in Redmond, Wash.; Pound Ridge, N.Y.; Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; and Bellevue, Wash. In later years, Jill and Vince spent their time in Green Valley, Ariz., or their lake home in Washington State. With her wonderful wit and outgoing personality, Jill made many friends throughout the country.

Cooking, painting, gardening, and restoring homes were just a few of the ways Jill used her many artistic talents. She loved a party and looked forward to holidays, birthdays, and any other occasion to entertain her family and friends. Jill appreciated nature and was a voracious reader who belonged to several book clubs. Jill enjoyed playing Scrabble, cribbage, bridge and chess.

After her children were grown, Jill volunteered at Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland, Wash., and Camp Erin, a camp for children grieving the death of a family member. Jill was diagnosed with stage IV cancer many years ago. Her faith and the way she lived her life to the fullest, despite her illness, were an inspiration to all who knew her.

Jill is survived by: her husband, Vincent H. Lombardi, Green Valley, Ariz.; her four children, Vincent T. (Sally Sue) Lombardi, II, Seattle, Wash.; John C. (Barbara Ann) Lombardi, Hendersonville, Tenn.; Gina M. Lombardi, Issaquah, Wash., and Joseph P. (Molly) Lombardi, Covington, La.; her 12 grandchildren, Vincent, Benjamin, Meagan, Katie, Riley, Jack, Joseph, Maria, Bernadette, Thomas, Dominic, and Clare; siblings, Jacques (Diane) Butz, Destin, Fla., Pat (Sandy) Butz, Minot, and Carla Butz (Jerome) Carlin, Mahtomedi, Minn.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Jill was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Mark Butz., and her sister-in-law Diane (Nelson) Butz, both who lived in Rugby.

A funeral service was held Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Green Valley, Ariz. A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 2, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Issaquah, Wash. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery in Issaquah.

Memorials are preferred to: Safe Crossings Foundation, Children’s Grief Program – Camp Erin, 814 1st Avenue, #312, Seattle, WA 98104 or Casa De Esperanza De Los Ninos, A Safe Place for Children, P.O. Box 66581, Houston, TX 77266-6581.