Obituary of Nahyda "Pat" Chandler

Nahyda C. “Pat” Chandler (85) resident of St. Maries, ID , died March 30 2017 at her home near St. Maries. She was the first of four children born to Ukrainian parents Arnold and Kathrina Richter on June 1, 1931. She was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Nahyda met Ross Gordon Chandler on Christmas Day 1949 after corresponding through mail for two and a half years. During their correspondence Ross was stationed in Japan on the cleanup of the Korean War. They married January 17th 1950. She was known as Hedi to her family and Pat by her friends. She loved hunting with her husband and fishing with her children. Her other hobbies were painting, gardening, quilting, lapidary work and cooking. She could often be found putting rocks in the car to the frustration of her husband. Later on he discovered what she was collecting and helped her put together a rock cutting and polishing system so that she could use all the rocks that she have been collecting throughout the years. She was even featured in the St. Maries Gazette about her rock hounding abilities. She could be found at the Benewah County Fair selling her lapidary work. She created a wheel of fortune for the kids and gave them things like little bags of rocks as a prize. She also belong to the local rock club and quilting club. She is the mother of eight children, Carl Roy Chandler, Julie Ann Chandler Humann, Millie Jean Catherine Chandler Christensen, Rose Marie Chandler Cope, Ralph Arnold Chandler, Susan Faye Chandler Hewson, Tina Louise Chandler Loe, and Robert Gordon Chandler. Because of her loving nature she became Mom to many children who were not of her blood but she loved them just the same. She loved cooking and there was always room for one more at the table. She is survived by her sister Millie Laura Richter Rempel, brother Theodore Richter,niece Mona Rempel Baxter, nephews Mark Rempel, Kevin Rempel, Colin Richter, and all her children. She has 8 children, 23 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Ross Gordon of 65 years, her parents, her sister Honey (Irma Hannah), her brother Sonny/Wally (Waldemere William), Grandson Ryan Richter and Great Grandson BrentLee Humphrey. She has now gone to the Lord and her loved ones who have passed. A celebration of her life will be Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Church with Chaplain Tim Hall officiating. A gathering of family and friends will follow in the Fellowship Hall of the Church. Visit her online memorial and sign her guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com