Resided in Tulalip, Wash. for the past 21 years before moving there from Lummi, Wash. She was born and raised in Seattle, Wash. Born August 9, 1957, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Entered to Rest on December 27, 2015.
Muffy was a childcare worker most of her life. She really enjoyed watching and caring for other babies and children by spoiling them and sending them home to their parents – that was her Motto!!!!! Muffy was a trooper! She had suffered with pain most of her life, being diagnosed at the young age of eight with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and having to deal with pain of fluid building up on her knees. It soon continued to reach her hips and spine which lead to requiring surgeries to Hip replacement. The doctors also discovered three of her vertebrae fusing and growing together within her upper neck, making it difficult for Muffy to physically hold her head up straight with limited motion of turning her head. This was diagnosed as Rheumatoid Ankylosing Spondylitis. Yet despite the diagnosis,this did not stop her from holding her head up high with loads of smiles, like there was nothing wrong even though pain was a consistent part of her life.
In 2009, she was also given the prognosis of having Nasopharyngeal Cancer. She began chemotherapy and the occasional radiation treatments to deal with it. She had her up and down moments throughout the years… sometimes not needing treatment at all! Yet on October 21, 2015, she was informed by the doctors that no more treatments could be done, and the Cancer had taken over some of her organs. Who but her family would have known that she suffered throughout her life in pain not only because of the cancer, but with the arthritis. She walked through life with joy and pride. Ailments did not dictate anything less than a Powerful and Generous woman.
She was always on the go somewhere and with her “kids” aka Montessori or tribal extended family… as we all know Muffy didn’t have any children of her own. She chose the easy way of having “Kids” by letting others give birth to them, and she gladly babysat and toted them with her everywhere. What a great babysitter/Auntie she was to so many within the community! Being the Trooper and Strong-willed soul…Muffy began making her own arrangements for her journey on to Paradise of the Afterlife. She wanted to make sure it would be an easy transition for her surviving siblings and family. She made sure that her puppies would be taken care of. As many of you know, Cruz was her first dog, and she will be taking Cruz’s ashes with her on her Journey. She made sure her surviving Baby Reeses will be well taken care of and going to a good home within the family. She was an amazing lady thinking of others, and offering her help within the tribal community.
She is survived by her sisters, Marcelina “Lena” (Cubby) Martin, Monica “Monie” Ordonia, Connie (Cliff) Matteson; her brothers, Melition “William” (Coco) Ordonia, as well as David and Joe Fernandes. Muffy has numerous nieces and nephews as well as many many extended nieces and nephews throughout the Tulalip community and beyond.
Visitation will be Monday, January 4, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home with an Interfaith service to follow at 6:00 p.m. at the Tulalip Gym. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Tulalip Gym with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.
