Priscilla Rouleau

Priscilla Mae Rouleau was taken into our Lord’s loving arms on October 17, 2023. She was born May 13,1930 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Yakima WA, the second child of Edmund and Mary (Murphy) Britton. Priscilla grew up in Toppenish WA on a sugar beet farm and graduated from Toppenish High School in 1948. During these early years she became an accomplished musician on the piano. As a junior and senior in high school, she accompanied both vocal and instrumental performing arts students at their annual adjudication. Accompanying twenty-two students her senior year, both she and the students received high praise and excellent grades for presentation. Inspired by the encouragement of the Toppenish HS music instructor, Mr. Tollefson (Mr. T), she accepted a music scholarship and attended Whitman College where she was also a member of the Phi Mu sorority. Due to the passing of her father, Priscilla returned home after her sophomore year and began working for the Del Monte Corporation and U & I Sugar Company over the next several years. While she excelled in her secretarial and accounting work, her true gifts were connecting and working with people. In later years, she worked as an office manager for St. Paul Cathedral School in Yakima and finished her career after 22 years of service as the Secretary to the Superintendent at Naches Valley School District. Priscilla loved her work with the schools and built strong relationships with administrators and coworkers alike. Teachers, coworkers, parents, and children were all blessed by her compassion and caring nature. In August of 1950, a sorority sister from Whitman set her up on a blind date with Richard (Dick) Rouleau. It was love at first sight. October 4, 1952, they were married and began a union that lasted nearly 60 years until Dad’s death in 2012. Their journey was filled with dancing, enjoying friends and family, and raising their 4 children, Joe, Rich, Collette and Katherine. Mom was very involved in the lives of her children and later grandchildren. She was a fixture at all of their scholastic and sporting events. She enjoyed forming bonds with other parents and supporting the Carroll High School community while cheering on her children. She continued to follow sports by attending basketball and volleyball games as Rich and Collette coached and later the sporting events of her grandchildren. Gonzaga basketball, Notre Dame football and Wimbledon tennis were always on her radar, and she loved to recap the games with anyone who would listen. Excellence of play and sportsmanship were always valued and complemented her own nature all too well. Mom was a strong role model to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was caring and compassionate and always looked for the good in people. All who knew her could attest to her fine character. At the age of 45, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. As she slowly lost her physical ability, she never lost her positive outlook and strong determination. She was preceded in death by husband Richard Rouleau, her parents Edmund and Mary Britton, brother Warren Britton (WWII, Okinawa), sister Marcella Morrison and granddaughter Chelsea Heffner. She is survived by her four children: Joe (Sonia), Rich (Lori), Collette (Wayne) Heffner, and Katherine Rouleau; eight grandchildren Rachel (Chad) Baker, Mandy (Adam) Rowe, Joey Rouleau, Matt (Stephanie) Rouleau, Leah (Travis) Wright, Heather (Bryce) Morrison, Trey (Carissa) Heffner, Tyler Rouleau; and thirteen great-grandchildren: Ellie, Lennon, and Landon Baker; Bella, Emary, and Hadley Rowe; Olivia Rouleau; Isla and Tatum Wright; Chloe, Paisley, and Ivy Morrison; and Wayne Heffner IV. Many thanks to Del Miles and the staff at Izzy’s Adult Family Home for their care these past 5 ½ years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to La Salle High School or the charity of your choice. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Priscilla Rouleau, please visit our flower store.