Avis Zoanni was a longtime teacher, music lover, quick-witted storyteller and poet, and doting grandmother and great-grandmother. She died on Friday, May 27 at her retirement home in Helena, surrounded, as she’d hoped, by family. She was 96.
The college graduate – and tough yet stylish farm girl – wouldn’t want anyone going on about all she’d done during her life. But days before she passed – her mind sharp, her muscles strong from daily walks, her heart tired from nearly a century of love and hard work – she agreed to an obituary.
It should note, she said, that she was among three women named Montana’s Merit Mother of the Year in 1985, and that she edited the Montana Mothers newsletter for the next seven years. Oh, and that Ray Mule was nice enough to make copies for her to send out.
As usual, she brushed over the good stuff.
Born Avis Marie Schmitz on Feb. 28, 1920 in an eastern Montana farmhouse, she worked her way through the University of Montana as a housekeeper, graduating in 1942. Avis adored the Rocky Mountains but returned to eastern Montana to teach near her beloved sister, Mary.
But it was Aldo Zoanni who convinced her to stay – after he flashed her his blue eyes, brushed her hand and asked her to dance at a party welcoming him home from World War II. She and Al were married the next year, on July 22, 1946.
While Al farmed in the Sioux Pass area, Avis worked as a teacher in a one-room school house and talked often about letting children daydream, which she called “cloud time.” Their first child was Madelyn, born during a blizzard on January 6, 1950; Al shoveled snow in front of the car to get them home to a rustic farm house without electricity. Next came Dave, born on March 9, 1953. Mary followed on May 17, 1955, and Anne on November 25, 1957. Jim was born on October 1, 1961.
Her family grew to 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, each of whom was always greeted with a big smile, warm hug and kiss on the cheek. Many were given colorful quilts that Avis stitched together from old clothing, including a grandson surprised by a forgotten pin . The last quilt was given to her niece, Mavis, sewn when Avis was 95 and legally blind.
Growing up on eastern Montana’s dry prairie gave Avis an appreciation for everything green. She meticulously tended flower gardens in her backyard, and seemed to have emotional difficultly pruning any bush, tree or shrub. She listened for birds, searched for butterflies and watched the sky. Inside her kitchen, she baked caramel-covered cinnamon rolls and Christmas cookies while telling stories to the grandchildren at her feet.
Avis was an avid writer and often wrote poems, some of them published, chronicling her life. One recalled baking cookies – in 99-degree weather – for a grandson more excited about her goodies than his new baby sister. She worked with an editor on the East Coast to pen a children’s story about a garden-protecting fairy who helped a little boy, Davey, rebuild his mother’s award-winning flower garden after a storm.
It was part of her life-long passion for learning. She remembered every book she read, loved the internet – requesting searches for German lullabies sung by her grandfather – and at age 94, started a Montana history hour at her retirement home in Helena.
She accidentally ordered Spanish-language Christmas cards one year, so she wrote “with all my love” in Spanish. Prayers to Al and St. Anthony helped her find countless items. Get her laughing too hard, and she’d nearly fall out of her chair.
A devout Roman Catholic, she was a constant at Mass, sang in the choir, played the piano, and taught Sunday school. Much of her time was given to local Right to Life organizations, and she prayed the rosary daily for each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Avis died 49 years, to the day, after her sister Mary, who died in Avis’ arms. Avis also was preceded in death by her husband, Al, whom she never replaced.
We miss her dearly but are honored she stayed with us so long.
A viewing will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 2nd at Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, 315 2nd St. NW, Sidney, MT 59270. A rosary will follow the viewing at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 3rd at Saint Catherine’s Catholic Church, 317 W. 7th St., Fairview, MT 59221 with a reception to immediately follow at the church. Rite of Committal will take place at Hillside Cemetery, Culbertson, MT following the reception. Donations can be made in Avis’ name to the Sunrise Women’s Clinic (http://www.sunrisepregnancy.com), PO Box 1086, Sidney, Montana 59270; and Soaring Eagle, 922 Wyoming Avenue, PO Drawer 879, Billings, Mt. 59103 www.soaringeagle.org.