WATERTOWN, NY — Lis Svenson Couch, 88, wife of Dr. George Glynn Couch died Friday morning, April 19, 2019, surrounded by her family.
Pearl Lis Svenson was born Dec. 23, 1930, in Juneau, Alaska.
Her father Sven Herbert Svenson was a commercial fisherman and her mother Sigrid Skeie a homemaker.
She was educated in local schools but the family moved to Seattle where Lis entered and graduated from the University of Washington in 1952.
Lis spent one year teaching English before setting out for Europe working for the USO. She met her future husband, Dr. George Couch while he served as a doctor for the US Army’s First Division in Baumgarten, Germany. As George remembers, “I said Wow when I first met her, and I having been saying Wow ever since.” They were married August 25, 1955 at “The Little Church around the Corner” an Episcopal Parish Church in New York City.
Shortly thereafter the newlyweds moved to New Haven, CT, while George completed his Ob/GYN residency at the Yale University’s Grace New Haven Hospital. Four years and two sons later the young family moved back to Dr. Couch’s hometown of Watertown to raise a growing family and start a medical practice.
In the subsequent years Lis provided the home support for raising five sons and she was an insightful and diligent partner to her husband in his successful medical practice and career.
Lis was a diligent supporter of local charities and causes. She was an active contributor of local charities including the House of Good Samaritan Ladies Auxiliary, Trinity Episcopal Church and an avid supporter of the Flower Memorial Library and the Jefferson County Historical Society.
She traveled extensively to England, Norway, Sweden and Salt Lake City to research and document family histories and chronologies. She was a fountain of information reciting family histories of many many generations. Lis also loved her time hand painting early American decorative gold leaf Tole trays with her friends at the 1000 Island Art Center in Clayton.
Lis’s greatest joy came from her family, raising 5 sons as well as juggling house and office obligation. Lis would often comment that her greatest joy in life is to see her 5 sons all excel in matters that were important and unique to each son. She commented that raising her children was her complete and first priority and not a day would pass when she would not communicate her love and admiration for her sons and grandchildren. Lis celebrated and took pride in the fact that each of her children pursued their own unique interests and passions.
Lis leaves her husband of 65 years as well as five sons, William Stuart(Helen) of Columbia, SC, Gregory Glynn (Kate) Watertown, Peter Svenson (Bernadette) Seattle WA, Mark Skeie, Syracuse and George Alexander(Vivian), Tampa FL; six grandchildren. William Gordon, Chandler Lemon, Elisabeth Glynn, Grace Westover (Kyle Abbott), Alexander Svenson and Alexandra Patterson.
A brother, Raymond Svenson, predeceases her.
The family is very appreciative for the love and care provided by health care providers Teresa, Stephanie, Chrissy, Heather and Anita.
A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 227 Sherman St., Watertown. A reception will be held immediately following the service in the Macsherry Parish Center.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Cleveland Funeral Home, Inc. Watertown.
Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Northern New York Community Foundation and Hospice of Jefferson County.
Online condolences may be made www.clevelandfhinc.com.
