Josie Wannarachue died as she lived – surrounded by her loving husband and family, and secure in her Catholic faith that God had called her home. Her peaceful passing on early Sunday morning, July 2, 2023, at age 79 came after a struggle with breast cancer for the third time that she fought courageously for the last five years.

She was born Josefina Santos Domingo in a small town called Bangued in the Abra province in northern Philippines. Her biological father Major Joseph Domingo was killed in battle during WWII around the same time Josie was born. Josie was raised by her grandmother in Mayantoc, Tarlac a community founded by her grandfather Don Francisco P. Santos, whose statue still stands in the town center. At the age of 9, Josie reunited with her parents and moved to Mindanao where her stepfather, Dominador Nunag was a Professor at Mindanao State University, Marawi City and her mother was a Home Economics teacher.

Josie attended University of the Philippines before transferring to St. Luke's College of Nursing, Trinity University of Asia in Manila to complete her nursing degree. Josie then moved to Newark, New Jersey for post-graduate training where she met and later married Dr. Nikom Wannarachue – a Thai pediatric resident. Together they moved to Seattle so Nik could complete his Fellowship at the University of Washington Medical School.

They chose Kennewick as their new home- and the rest, as they say, is history.

Nik opened his Pediatric and Endocrinology practice and Josie, in addition to raising three daughters and a son – became an entrepreneur, a Tri-Cities cheerleader and world-class friend to more people than she could count. She once owned a travel agency simply because she loved to travel – and she did.

Unpaid public service is what Josie did every day, in ways both large and small. The beneficiaries of that public service so often were the citizens of Kennewick. Josie involved herself in nearly every civic organization and her goal was always the same: to give back to the community she had called home since 1972. Josie was honored for her enormous contributions that helped shape the community and was nominated and awarded Kennewick Woman of the Year 2013 which she was very proud of, especially as the first Asian recipient.

Josie was a role model – loved and loving, and tireless in helping others.

Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke once said her accomplishments "serve as a standard the rest of us can only dream of following."

Josie had been involved or served leadership roles in the Pasco-Kennewick Rotary, Mid-Columbia Arts Council, March of Dimes, ARC, the Philippine American Association, the Mid-Columbia Symphony Guild, the Washington State Mint Association, the Children's Reading Foundation, Safe Harbor Crisis and Domestic Violence Services and co-chaired May Fest for St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kennewick.

She also co-chaired fundraising efforts to build or expand the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, Kennewick General Hospital and Trios Hospital. She and her husband formed the Mid-Columbia Asian Association in the Tri-Cities, and they maintained their ties to their homelands, including Thailand, where Dr. Wannarachue grew up. She was an advocate for higher education and had hosted and "mothered" several foreign exchange students from Europe and Asia that refer to her as Mom today. She also served as a Columbia Basin College Board of Trustee. Josie was an advocate in recruiting physicians to the Tri-Cities and encouraging them to become active members of the community.

She was an excellent chef and authored a cookbook "Thai Cuisine at its Best" that is used in kitchens throughout the Tri-Cities. And she wasn't even Thai - she had mastered the art of Thai cuisine by traveling to visit her in-laws. In typical Josie fashion, her cookbook took it to the next level and incorporated wine pairings with the local wineries of Eastern Washington, further supporting and bringing awareness and appreciation to her beloved community.

She and Nik traveled the world – often to Europe and Southeast Asia where they generously helped schools and installed water filtration systems through the PK Rotary. They invited friends galore to travel with them who returned exhilarated, educated, and exhausted – all unable to keep up with this tiny dynamo of a woman.

Josie, who was wise, fun, stylish and funny, was called the energizer bunny because she was always ready for another project, another trip, another adventure. Josie found joy in sharing what she had; an enthusiasm for life, her love of the good and beauty in people and things in the world around her. Though we grieve the loss of Josie's physical presence, her vibrant spirit and zest for life will forever remain in our hearts. We take solace in knowing that her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched. Josie's unwavering enthusiasm for life will forever be an inspiration, reminding us to live each day to the fullest and cherish every precious moment.

Those left to mourn are her husband, Dr. Nikom Wannarachue, daughters JoAnne Wannarachue Lord and her husband Jeffrey and their daughters Mali and Lili of Los Angeles; Jennifer Wannarachue Chevchek and her husband Brian and their son Everett of Seattle, and son, Nathan of Kennewick.

Memorial services will be held at Hillcrest Funeral Home and St Joseph Church both in Kennewick. A public viewing is 4-8 pm, Wednesday, July 12 at Hillcrest, 9535 W. Clearwater Avenue. Thursday, July 13, a public viewing will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kennewick at 10am, followed by a Rosary at 11 am, and funeral mass at 12 noon.