Elinor Troianello

YAKIMA - Ann Troianello of Yakima died peacefully on Friday, March 14 2014, after a long battle with cancer. Born Elinor Louise Belch on March 24, 1929, to Harold and Ruth (Hedrick) Belch of Ellensburg, she showed her independent streak early, choosing to be called Ann by friends and family. She grew up in Ellensburg with her brothers, Harold Jr. “Bud” and Arthur Belch, where their father had a candy and tobacco wholesale business. She attended the campus cooperative grade school, spent idyllic summers with her grandparents in Willapa, was an excellent swimmer, and took a cross-country trip in her senior year of high school with her Aunt Elinor, Uncle Jay and cousin Karen. She attended Central Washington State College before transferring to Washington State College, where she graduated with a degree in education and a teaching certificate. By chance through friends in Ellensburg, Ann met Joseph Troianello, an Air Force serviceman stationed in Moses Lake. Ann went on to teach elementary school in Riverside, Calif., while Joe was stationed at George Air Force Base in Victorville, Calif. The couple married Dec. 27, 1952, at St. Andrews Church in Ellensburg. Last year they celebrated 61 years of marriage. Ann and Joe next moved to Joe’s hometown, Madison, N.J., where Joe’s father and uncle had established one of the first greenhouses that gave Madison its nickname, The Rose City. They raised their four children, Craig, Joann, Mark and Susan there, with Ann making sure to take them to the many historical sites around the Northeast, as well as into New York City, and on many trips to the shore. While raising her family, Ann taught elementary school at St. Vincent Martyr School. In 1977, Ann and Joe, with their youngest daughter, Susan, moved to Yakima where Joe built the family home on a small orchard, while establishing his business, Thermex Heating and Air Conditioning. Ann, an accomplished seamstress who even made Joann’s wedding dress, volunteered at the Yakima Valley Museum, then was employed there for many years as a textile expert and curator. She worked with the museum guild’s quilt committee to register 500 quilts from throughout the Valley during Yakima’s centennial celebration, before becoming co-chairman of Quilt Heritage Washington State, coordinating a statewide quilt registration for the state’s centennial. She also made quilts herself, especially enjoying the intricate Baltimore Album quilts, and taught quilting classes. Ann is remembered as a good cook, who made family cookbooks for each of her children, and collected many more to read and enjoy. She loved a good mystery or romance novel, was fascinated by history, both of pioneer America and ancient Egypt, and Native cultures, especially of the Southwest. She thoroughly enjoyed going to the ocean beaches, taking long car rides with Joe, collecting pictures of wolves, and rarely met a Santa figurine she didn’t like. She also encouraged family to visit the Ellensburg IOOF Cemetery on Memorial Day weekends, where she told stories about the family members buried there. She and Joe compiled family history photo albums for their children. If she could pass on some advice, it would be for young people to learn to cook and budget, so they would eat better and save money. She appreciated the freedom her generation had and talked fondly of the hours she and friends biked around Ellensburg on long summer evenings, and lamented that children today don’t have the same opportunities. Ann was never shy about voicing an opinion, but was truly proud of her children and grandchildren. She was pleased to meet her great-granddaughter, Althea Mae Baker, at a family reunion held in the summer of 2013, which drew cousins from around the state, and her uncle, Don Hedrick of Davis, Calif. Ann is survived by her husband, Joe, of Yakima; her children and their spouses, Craig and Karen Troianello, Mark and Lori Troianello, all of Yakima, Joann and Bob Baker of Monroe, N.Y., and Sue and Duane Ritchie of Monmouth, Ore.; five grandsons, Joe and Jamie Baker of Monroe, N.Y., Chris and Liz Baker of Austin, Texas, Joe Troianello of Yakima, Mike Troianello of Pullman and Peter Troianello of Yakima; one great-granddaughter, Althea Mae Baker of Austin, Texas; her brother, Art and Bonnie Belch of Yakima; her sister-in-law, Melanie Belch, of Frisco, Texas; an uncle, Don Hedrick, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Bud. The family would like to thank the staff at North Star Cancer Lodge Center, Drs. Vani Bremjet and Vicky Jones, for their care of Ann during her treatment; the hospital staffs at both Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and Yakima Regional Medical Center, for their care during several stays in the last year, and the Yakima Regional Home Health and Hospice staff, who made her final days a little easier. The family also thanks the staff at Willow Springs Care and Rehabilitation Center, where she was taken shortly before her death, for their care and consideration. Ann requested that no services be held, but that won’t stop us from remembering her spirit, her courage and her determination, which carried her through a long life. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home of Yakima. At her request, there will be no services. Arrangements are by Valley Hills Funeral Home of Yakima. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elinor Troianello, please visit our flower store.