Lucille Evelyn "Sparky" Ladenburg left us early on the morning of September 13 and the world was suddenly a lonelier place. Born on January 31, 1922 in South Tacoma, she spent a life of love and laughter here in "God's country". She was a member of a pioneer Tacoma family that settled in South Tacoma in the 1880's. She graduated from Lincoln High School and worked for Weisfield's Jewelers in downtown Tacoma. In the early forties, she was introduced by her uncle Harold Fenton and wife Luetta to a handsome young man from Kalispell, Montana named Frank Ladenburg. They subsequently married on June 21, 1943. Frank survived World War II to return to help her raise their family of 16 children. Lucille earned the nickname "Sparky" both from her beautiful eyes and her bright, loving and humorous personality. She never desired material wealth; people were her only priority. As she used to tell the grandchildren, "I'm rich in kids"! Her joy in life was family and she created a home that was the happy epicenter of activity for all who had the good fortune to be part of that family. A woman with boundless love, she often invited friends of her children to stay the night, sometimes turning into weeks and months for kids with troubled homes. She was a gifted cook, the kitchen her domain; she never let a guest go unfed. Her door was literally always open and she welcomed a steady stream of neighbor children, teenage friends, future sons and daughters-in-law and various and sundry hangers-on to her table. Regulars will remember the "844 Cafe" and the "Business- people's lunch," the Thanksgiving feasts and the St. Patrick's Day parties. Besides the growing and nurturing of children, she excelled at and loved working in her garden. Bright blooms adorned her home all summer long and a virtual jungle of houseplants threatened to overtake Frank Sr.'s chair in the dining room. Lucille enjoyed listening to big band music even over the din of the Ladenburg home as it filled up on holidays or birthdays with family and friends. She was an avid reader of mystery and science fiction novels. She loved the gentle Northwest rain, clean kids, the peace of the ocean, a good cup of coffee and a bit of soup or seafood at 5 AM. No matter what happened along life's path, she could find humor in any situation. She made us all laugh. She was the consummate mother, grandmother, and friend that cannot be replaced. The family wishes to thank Dr. Frank Senecal and the nurses of Franciscan Home Health Services, especially Carolyn, for their kind care and assistance during Lucille's illness.