Pete B. DeFuria
February 3, 1917 - January 21, 2007
Obituary
Pete B. DeFURIA
Petito “Pete” B. DeFuria died on January 21, 2007 at the Sunrise Assisted Living of Bellevue, WA. He was born in Red Jacket, WV on February 3, 1917, to Italian immigrants, Michele and Anna Maria DeFuria. He graduated with a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, before enlisting in the Air Force in WWII. While stationed at Chanute Air Base in Champaign, IL, Pete met Jane Sheehan and they married in 1942. Pete served in England during WWII, and remained in the reserves, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1954 Pete and Jane with their first three daughters, moved to Seattle, eventually settling in the Rainier Valley, where two more daughters and a son were born. They were foundational members of St. Paul Catholic Church for over 50 years. Pete started a chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Paul’s, remaining active until recently. He was a CCD teacher, a lector at Mass, and a Eucharistic minister to the elderly. Pete and Jane sponsored First Communicants and, with their friends, took home made meat loaf sandwiches to the Martin de Pores Homeless Shelter each month.
In 1973 Pete, with concerned neighbors, convinced the City of Seattle to buy the Kubota Gardens on Renton Avenue instead of allowing proposed development, thus preserving this natural site for their community.
Pete worked for Boeing Aircraft for 28 years. At home he was a wine maker, a Master Gardener, and could fix anything.
Pete is survived by Jane, his beloved wife of 62 years; his six children Janie Champoux, Nancy Fischer, Romey Principe, Kathleen Callero, Diane DeFuria, and Michael DeFuria; his 15 grandchildren Chris, Mark and AnneMarie Champoux, Sarah Dan and Katie Cote Fischer, Conner Mary and Clare Principe, Nic, Emmy, Patrick and Sam Callero, and Nicole and Michayla DeFuria; and one great-grandson Gracen Champoux.
Pete will be remembered for his quick wit, his love of children, his rotisserie chicken, his deep and abiding faith, and his life-long integrity.
Rosary Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 7:00pm at Bonney-Watson Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd. SeaTac 206 242-1787. Funeral Mass Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 10:30am at St. Paul Catholic Church, 5600 S. Ryan, Seattle, WA 98178.
The family gratefully thanks the dedicated and loving staff at the Sunrise of Bellevue and the Providence Hospice of Seattle. In lieu of flowers please contribute to your local chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Dear Diane,
It’s been awhile since I last saw you, but I wanted to extend my deepest sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your father. May you find comfort in your loving memories.
Geri Capeloto
The Lakeshore staff would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Jane and the family.
It was a joy to have you in our lives.
Sincerely,
The Lakeshore Staff
dear jane and family: my sincerest sympathy to you in the loss of pete. he was always the gentleman, smiling and kind. God bless you and keep you strong. iknow pete is with God and is smiling on you . take care, mary sutton.
Pete and Jane were good friends from our Third Order Secular days at the Cana Section and even later. We really appreciated his good sense of humor. Sorry that we can not come to the Mass as we have colds and don’t want to pass them on to others. Love, P{eace and Joy, Don & Lucy
We are sorry for Pete’s passing. We knew him at St. Paul’s and Ken will not forget Pete’s sensitivity, sense of humor, and directness in his dealings at St. Vincent de Paul meetings and visits. He was always calm and thoughtful and great to be around. He is missed.
My sympathies and condolences to all the family. I hope to be around as long as Pete was.
I worked with Pete at Boeing on Minuteman in the 60’s and then on Compass Cope in the 70’s. Enjoyed working with him and enjoyed his personality, humor and work ethic. I used to call him “Furious Pete” play on words, but he was actually easy-going and rarely ruffled.