Raphielle Marie Chynoweth

A bright ray of sun to all who knew her, Raphielle Marie (Gennette) Chynoweth, 60, passed away at home surrounded by family and friends following a courageous two-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was the third daughter born to Tom and MaryAnne (Noseda) Gennette.

Raphielle was known for her laughter, sunny disposition, and uniquely colorful spirit. Her zest for all things pink and glittery was unmatched. She loved to sing and dance and never passed up an opportunity to don her tiara and cowboy boots. She had a passion for art and music and particularly enjoyed painting/hiding/finding rocks, hunting Beautiful Angle posters and Tacoma Monkeyshines in the wild, and attending country music concerts.

She grew up in Kelso, Washington, and graduated from Kelso High School in 1982. The daughter of two Kelso School District educators and one of the fourth generation of Nosedas to grow up in the area, she remained a Kelso Highlander at heart all her life. Some of her favorite memories were learning and performing the Highland Fling as part of the Kelso High cheer squad, writing for the school newspaper, and competing in the Miss Cowlitz County Pageant where she was voted Miss Congeniality. She attended St. Mary’s Church and worked summer jobs as a teenager at Bob’s Merchandise and the Kelso Theater. Her sisters, Anne and Donna, and her work as a group leader for special needs children at Camp GoodtYmes at the YMCA of SW Washington inspired her to seek a career in healthcare.

Raphielle graduated with a degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Puget Sound in 1987 where she was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority. As an occupational therapist, she worked in a variety of subspecialties throughout her career at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, CHI Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in Tacoma, Life Care Center in Puyallup, and Kindred At Home in Pierce County. She was a 25+ year employee of Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. For several years she also coordinated the Sibshop Program in the Children’s Therapy Unit at Good Sam, a play and therapy program for children with disabled siblings.

In 1989, she married Joe Chynoweth. They were married for 17 years during which time they had sons, TJ and Liam. They later divorced. She married Bryant Bowman in 2014. They later divorced.

Raphielle lived in Puyallup for 30 years and was an active member of Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church. She was a long-time board member and volunteer with the Daryl and Shirley Jenkins Foundation.

Preceded in death by her dad Tom, and her sister Anne, Raphielle is survived by her sons TJ and Liam, sister Donna, mom Mary Anne, and a fleet of family and friends who loved her dearly.

Services will be held at Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Puyallup on Saturday, April 19, at 1:00pm with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Raphielle’s name to Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church (P.O. Box 73426, Puyallup, WA 98373), or to the Kindering Sibling Support Project https://kindering.org/siblingsupportproject-donation/