Jeraldine Mary Spinelli-Cozad, 73, passed away peacefully at Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living home on June 22, 2016. Jeraldine, also known as Jerry, was born on March 11, 1943, to Charles and Mollie Spinelli in Washing-ton, D.C. She grew up in San Jose, Calif., with her two siblings, Charlie and Loretta. In Jerry's younger years, she enjoyed playing softball and continued to play into adulthood. Jerry met her loving husband of 47 years, Terry Cozad, in San Jose. They were married on July 22, 1962, in Los Gatos, Calif., in a Catholic Church. Later that year, Jerry and Terry moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to start a family. Jerry worked many jobs, including working for the Coeur d'Alene Press as a darkroom technician and for the U.S. Forest Service. She was also a 4-H leader who enjoyed spending time working with children. But mostly, Jerry stayed home to take care of her three children — Chris, Stephanie and Craig. At 48 years old, Jerry was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Despite battling with MS for 25 years, she kept smiling and laughing until the end. She loved her family and will be greatly missed by them. We remember Jerry as an Italian woman who was a great wife, sister, mother, aunt, homemaker and Catholic. She is survived by Terry Cozad of Hayden, Idaho; her oldest son, Chris Cozad, Jeanni and Maddy Angus of Wasilla, Alaska; her daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Chris Quagliana of Hayden; her youngest son, Craig Cozad of Dalton Gardens, Idaho; a brother and sister-in-law, Charlie and Jacqueline Spinelli of Anchorage, Alaska; a sister, Loretta Miller of San Jose; her grandchildren, Victoria, Madison and Kendall Cozad, and Diamond and Jasmine Quagliana; her great-grandchild, Emma Cozad; and her several nieces and nephews and their families. The family would like to thank the Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living family for taking care of Jerry and loving her for the past eight years.
-A viewing of Jerry will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2016, at Yates Funeral Home in Coeur d'Alene. Jerry's funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 8, 2016, at Yates Funeral Home. The burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 11, 2016, at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens with Yates Funeral Homes in charge of arrangements.