Edith Franziska Mailolo

Edith Franziska Mailolo was born on December 19, 1947, in Salzburg, Austria. Her father, William Kala Mailolo, was Hawaiian and stationed in Europe with the U.S. Army following WW2. Her mother, Rosa Sechs, was Austrian, an Overseas Phone Operator who spoke English in addition to her native German. She had one younger brother, William Kala Mailolo Jr.

The Army soon moved the family back to the States, but later, when Edith was about 15, her father was sent to Augsburg, Germany, where she attended a Department of Defense high school and met several lifelong friends. After high school, Edith earned a degree in History from the University of Hawaii.

Edith joined IBM in 1983 and worked at several locations before IBM moved her to San Jose, CA, in the late 1980s. There she met Russel Brooks, who became her life partner. Edith kept her surname after they eloped to Reno, NV, in 2010.

In the fall of 2008, Edith and Russel moved to Walla Walla, originally to house sit for a friend, but they liked it so much they made the move permanent. Edith worked remotely for IBM until retiring a few years later. Edith really enjoyed Walla Walla, crafting with friends at the YMCA, where she also learned to play Pickleball. She learned Bobbin Lace from Marilee McQuarrie and, along with several others, started the Walla Walla Lacy Lacers guild, which is a Charter Chapter of the IOLI International Organization of Lace, Inc. They traveled to several lace conferences around the country and in 2019 created one of the most successful in Spokane. She demonstrated with the guild every year at the Walla Walla County Fair. Edith was Co-Superintendent over the Knitting and Crochet Department for the Walla Walla County Fair for the last four years.

Edith loved Pickleball and became one of the early players when it arrived in Walla Walla. She taught several people, first learning the game. Edith was a member of AAUW and volunteered at many events, including the yearly book sale.

Edith is survived by her husband, Russel Brooks.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heifer International through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.