Lucile Rasmussen Finn died peacefully on Thursday, September 5th. Lucile wasborn to Alice (Olson) Rasmussen and Thurman Rasmussen in Oconomowoc,Wisconsin. Her father died when she was three years old. Her mother, who was apublic school teacher, raised Lucile and her brother, with the help of Lucile’sgrandmother and aunt. Lucile learned piano from her aunt at an early age andplayed for her entire life. Her favorite youthful pastimes were singing in the choir,ice skating on the nearby lake, and playing with her pet goat. Lucile graduatedfrom St. Olaf College and the Chicago Hospital nursing program. She practicednursing at University Hospital in Minneapolis, where she met her future husband,Bob Finn. They were married in 1949, and the same year moved to Champagne,Illinois, where Bob took a position as Assistant Professor at the Univ. of Illinois. In1951 Lucile and Bob bicycled for the whole summer throughout Europe.In 1955 Lucile, Bob and their first two children, David and Mary, moved to Ithaca.In 1957, she and Bob began building their house on Ithaca’s West Hill, which wasa work in progress as the family grew to five children. Lucile enjoyed gardening,piano and choral singing. She was an active member of the First PresbyterianChurch, enthusiastically serving on the support committee for the KBK School inGhana. She and Bob loved to travel, and Switzerland, Italy, and Maho Bay, St.John were some of their favorite destinations. Lucile, Bob and family spentsabbatical years in California, in Germany and Switzerland. She learned to speakand write German while living abroad. Lucile’s greatness was her gentleness. Acaregiver by nature, she generously gave to others; always ready with a kind wordand a smile for everyone and encouragement for many. She will be greatlymissed.
She was predeceased by her husband, Bob, and daughter Mary. She is survived byher children: David Finn (Page Laughlin) of Winston-Salem, NC; Louisa Finn(Adam Jackson) of San Francisco, John Finn (Kate) of Ithaca; and Helaina (HeidiFinn) Sorey (David) of Seattle; her grandchildren Clare-Sophia Finn, Ariana Finn,Parrish Finn, Lucas Finn, and Miguel Sorey; her brother Thurman Rasmussen(Annette), her nephew Brian Rasmussen, and niece Julie Pope (Rasmussen).
Memorial gifts may be made to Loaves and Fishes and the KBK School c/o FirstPresbyterian Church, Ithaca. A memorial service celebrating Lucile's life will beheld at 2 pm, Saturday, November 30 at the First Presbyterian Church, Ithaca.
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