Liane "Lela" Sonja Piacitelli

Liane “Lela” Sonja Piacitelli, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025, in the loving care of her daughter in DuPont, Washington.

The younger of two children, Lela was born to Joseph and Margot (Erpelding) Foltz in Dudelange, Luxembourg, on May 9, 1935. She completed her early schooling during World War II in occupied Luxembourg. After the war, she continued her education in Germany and later in San Rafael, California, where she completed her first two years of high school before graduating from the American High School in Heidelberg, Germany. She went on to study languages at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

Lela met her future husband, a young U.S. Army officer named John Piacitelli, while attending Catholic services at the U.S. Army Chapel in Heidelberg. They were married on April 7, 1956, in the Bronx, New York. During their years of Army assignments in Georgia, Colorado, Texas, Pennsylvania, and finally Lakewood, Washington, their family grew to include eight children.

She was dedicated to raising and caring for her large family—cooking delicious meals, making massive commissary grocery runs, scheduling the children’s appointments, volunteering at St. Frances Cabrini Parish and Elementary School, and providing hospitality to her visiting friends and extended family. Throughout, she and John still took time to enjoy dining out and hosting parties.

In later years, she enjoyed visiting her children and their growing families, walking with neighborhood friends, and tending to the flowers and plants on her deck. She got a kick out of observing and feeding the birds and animals in her backyard, and collecting wind chimes. She kept her mind sharp through crossword puzzles as well as TV game shows, including Jeopardy!. In addition, she had fun challenging her family to online word games and her quiet humor came through when sharing puns at family gatherings.

Lela is survived by sons Gregory (Laurie), Mark (Laura), Paul (Leslie), Chris, John, Michael (Jill), and Stephen (Dawn); daughter Denise (Aaron) Piacitelli; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, stepsister, half-brother, and a daughter-in-law.

A small service is being planned.

Memorial donations in Liane’s honor may be made to St. Francis House, Puyallup, WA.

Arrangements are entrusted to Gaffney Funeral Home.