Lillian Elna Karlstrand

Lillian “Lita” E. Karlstrand

   Our beloved mother, grandmother, wife, and friend, Lillian “Lita” E. Karlstrand, was born July 25, 1944, in Pasadena, California, to Frank and Lillian Bentley. She passed away peacefully at home on October 4, 2026, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at the age of 82.

   Lita spent her early childhood in Washougal, Washington, where she lived until she was around seven years old, before moving with her family to Antioch, California. She attended Antioch High School and graduated in 1962. She went on to follow her calling in nursing, earning her nursing credentials from the Kaiser Foundation School of Nursing and graduating on August 26, 1966. Caring for others came naturally to Lita, and nursing was an important part of her life.

   In 1968, Lita married Carlos Afre, and together they had two children, Armando Afre and Ana Maria Afre. Their marriage later ended in divorce.

   On June 20, 1987, Lita married James E. Karlstrand, a member of the United States Air Force, at Fort Scott Chapel at the Presidio of San Francisco. James became her beloved husband and life partner. Together, they built a life filled with family, friendship, travel, learning, and the many interests they shared.

   Lita was a devoted mother and grandmother who treasured her family. She is survived by her husband, James E. Karlstrand; son, Armando Afre; daughter, Ana Maria Goodemote (Gary Goodemote); step-sons, Timothy Karlstrand, Mark Karlstrand (Robin Karlstrand), and Kristopher Karlstrand (Shana Karlstrand); and grandchildren Gage Goodemote, Gavin Goodemote, Sidney Karlstrand, Sylvienne Karlstrand, Magnus Karlstrand, Pearl Karlstrand, and Ryker Karlstrand.

   Lita was curious about the world and never stopped learning. Throughout her life, she was involved in schools, genealogical societies, and community organizations. During her travels with James during his military assignments, she attended Open University, where she studied Art History and learned how to restore paintings and books. She loved discovering something new and then sharing what she had learned with others.

   One of Lita's greatest passions was genealogy and family history. She joined the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1997 and was a member of both the Spokane, Washington, Chapter and the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Chapter. She devoted countless hours to researching family lineages for membership applications. She took tremendous pride in helping people uncover their ancestry and document the stories of those who came before them. She found great joy in helping others connect with their family history, and she formed many wonderful and lasting friendships through her work with DAR.

   Lita was also a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and enjoyed her time with the Red Hat Society, participating in chapters in spokane, Washington, and Coeur d’Alene.

   Her love of family history was matched by her love of the people and animals around her. Lita had a particularly soft spot for senior cats. She regularly adopted cats from the Kootenai County Humane Society, especially those who were often overlooked because of their age. She would say that these cats deserved to be loved, too, and knowing that she could give them a safe and loving home and care for them in their final years meant the world to her. She loved all of her adopted cats dearly, and they brought her great comfort and companionship.

   Lita was also creative and loved working with her hands. When she wasn't researching family history or caring for her cats, she could often be found knitting, doing needlepoint, or quilting. She was an accomplished quilter and won numerous awards for her work. Her quilts and handmade creations reflected her patience, creativity, and love, and many will remain treasured reminders of her for years to come.

   Lita will be remembered for her compassionate heart, her curiosity, her love of family and history, and her ability to see the people and animals who were sometimes overlooked. She had a generous spirit and a genuine desire to help others. She leaves behind not only family stories, treasured friendships, and beautiful handmade creations, but also the countless lives she touched simply by caring.

   Most of all, she leaves behind the love she gave so freely to her family and friends. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always