Cheryl Coquille Zettler

Cheryl Coquille Zettler, a mom, grandma, sister, aunt, dear friend to many, champion of 5-day stew, lifelong fisherwoman and teacher, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2025, in Seattle, Washington at home.  She leaves a huge hole in our hearts, but we’re beyond grateful for some very sweet, silly and “typically Cheryl” moments lately.

Unwavering. Loyal. Silly. Sharp. Creative. Brutally honest. Quirky. Dependable. Strong willed. Competitive. Fierce advocator for common sense. Hard-working. No one would argue that Cheryl approached everything at 200%, no less. She was unapologetically herself and excelled at everything she put her mind to. Her professional path led her from high school Latin and English teacher, to bookkeeper, IRS assistor, programmer and systems educator, ESL volunteer, entrepreneur, metal-worker and jewelry designer. Her passion for perfect grammar, studying, learning, researching and documenting everything was … intense. Her focus and competitive spirit only matched by her husband of 55 years, Greg Zettler, together they were an unstoppable partnership in Lightning sailboat races, bridge tournaments, salmon trolling, fly fishing, crabbing, parenting and preparing me (their only child) to handle most anything, including this moment. Despite the last 10 years of meetings, Big Talks, and binders full of notes and handwritten details and careful planning for which I’m incredibly grateful, their loss is immense.

Beneath the “All Bidness” exterior, Cheryl was always a super silly soul with an eccentric sense of humor and infectious laugh. She absolutely loved her life-long friends spanning back to her own school age, friends who helped adjusting to the NW from NOLA, her Robinswood volunteering friends, longtime sailing friends, ESCA friends, and crazy Golden Girls bridge friends and their wild trips together where her stomach hurt from laughing so much.

As some of you know, deep down Cheryl dreamt of being a sultry nightclub singer, and imagined herself belting out something like Aretha Franklin while sprawled across a piano. She got close to this as a founding member and backup singer for the “DB Defs” a band of cool nerds who performed at the ESCA holiday party.

We’ve created some great memories lately … shared a nice lunch just a few days ago catching up on her grandchildren, who she adored to the moon and was so very proud of. She joined us over Thanksgiving in the beautiful North Cascades for the first time in ~5 years. Lots of oohs and ahhhs over trees, snow, mountains and the annual fireworks show in Winthrop. She joined us at Hattie’s Hat (local favorite diner), enjoyed a ridiculous game of Ransom Notes, sat stage-side for her grandson’s School of Rock performance, got pedicures. She’d be relieved to know she had very fancy toenails for this last hurrah.

Cheryl was a force and her life filled with accomplishments, love and laughter shared with her beloved husband Greg Zettler, who preceded her in death last year. She is survived by her beloved sister Marilyn in Louisiana; her daughter Laurie, son-in-law Eric, and cherished grandchildren Vivian, Miles, and Gus in Seattle and several dear nieces and nephews. Her family was everything and she took immense pride in their accomplishments and adventures.

While stunned by her passing, we take comfort thinking of Cheryl and Greg reunited, dancing to something bluesy with a bottomless, complimentary ice cream buffet at their disposal.

A party in her honor is pending and will be announced at https://www.emmickfunerals.com . We'd like to deeply thank her companion caregiver David (Arbor Hills Senior Companion Care), my brother from another mother, who brought so much joy to her days. We're also deeply grateful for Merrill Gardens Ballard, caregivers and staff and residents for their incredible love and support of Mom and our family over the last several years. In lieu of flowers, Mom would be touched by a donation in her name to the following orgs dedicated to Alzehimer’s / Dementia research, medical trials and low overhead (as specified by Mom). Donate | Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation or OHSU Oregon Brain Bank fund (Please select "Other Area" from the "Select Gift Designation" drop down then type and select "Oregon Brain Bank" as the fund.

- Care Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home -