The bench is dedicated to the memory of a couple, Jake and Elsie Stroyan. It stands in front of the entrance foyer to the church offices and behind a fountain and small flower bed with a view of those and Chewelah's Main Street. On the north side of the building, it provides a shady and peaceful spot for a respite from the heat on summer days.
Jake and Elsie were born, married, lived and died in Chewelah. They were long time members of St. Mary of the Rosary Parish. An excerpt from Elsie's obituary is below.
STROYAN, Elsie Stephana
Elsie passed away during the early morning hours of August 31, 2005, following a battle with leukemia The youngest of three children, she was born at home in Chewelah, Washington on September 23, 1924 to parents Alfons and Esther Waldner She attended St Mary's Catholic School in Chewelah until transferring to Deer Park High School during her junior year. When the family moved to Loon Lake, Washington She played on the varsity basketball team, and graduated from Deer Perk High School in 1943 In her spare time, she worked for her parents at their family-owned restaurant.
Elsie met Jake Stroyan, her husband of 57 years, when he returned from World War II. They were married on February 18, 1947, and resided in her family's home on N. Stevens St. in Chewelah, Washington. In a home filled with love, laughter and chaos they raised nine children. Though life was busy at the Stroyan household, time was always set aside for an annual family vacation. Road trips provided many new experiences and a lifetime full of memories. Throughout the years, the house was filled to over-flowing, as children, grand-children, great-grandchildren, family and friends were always welcomed.
Elsie was an avid sports fan. Rain, snow, sleet or hail, she could be found in the bleachers cheering on generations of family members and friends, and whether it was football, basketball, baseball, soccer, or gymnastics, Elsie en-joyed every moment of it. She somehow managed to squeeze more hours out of I each day, in order to attend all of the events she wanted to watch She was a stay-at-home Mom whose other activities included bowling, swimming, hunting, fishing, and gardening Their love for travel lead Elsie and Jake to Italy, Alaska, Washington D.C., Hawaii, and New York.
From the Spokane Spokesman-Review