- Date Of Birth: February 27, 1918
- Date Of Death: November 20, 2017
- State: Idaho
Zelda Aitchison passed away peacefully November 20, 2017, at the age of 99, in her home at Heatherwood Senior Living, surrounded by family.
She was born Zelda Velita Rathbone February 27, 1918 outside of Emmett, Idaho. She was the fourth of fourteen children, ten of which grew to adulthood. When she was four months old her family moved to Boise.
She married Henry John Aitchison on July 22, 1935 in Boise, Idaho. She had five children, all raised in southeast Boise.
Zelda loved her family immensely and was never short on stories about her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids or great- great-grandkids. She was so proud of each one. She had an incredible knack for making each grandchild feel like they were her favorite.
Zelda was an ardent reader, partial to Louis L’amour and clean Harlequin romance novels. She enjoyed crocheting afghans and making baby blankets for her grandkids, for each generation until her hands were no longer able.
Traveling was another hobby of Zelda’s.
Hunting and fishing were both activities she liked to relive in storytelling. Her stories of ice fishing and hunting with her family and pictures of the fish she caught with her husband relay fond memories of her life.
Zelda is preceded in death by her husband, Henry John Aitchison, 12 siblings, her daughter, Helen Jeanette Fairbanks, her granddaughter, Teresa Aitchison Blackstone, her grandson, Bret Charles Aitchison, grandson Henry Leon Fairbanks, granddaughter Carriel Janine Butler, and her great grandson, Caleb Jordan Aitchison.
Zelda is survived by one sister, Verona (Eddie) Neufeld of Reedley, California, four of her children, Charles (Judy) Aitchison of Boise, Idaho, Edward Aitchison of Caldwell, Idaho, Robert (Marcia) Aitchison of Boise, Idaho and Julie Mahoney of Portland, Oregon; twenty-one grandchildren, forty-four great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the amazing hospice nurse and bath aides for the loving care offered in her final weeks.
The legacy Zelda has left is one of kindness, tolerance and love. May we all live up to the standard she has set.
