Zora Winifred Polich Schumock, 99, passed away July 13, 2022, surrounded by many who loved her. A service is planned at St. Thomas More Church at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 29. A private celebration of life will also be held at a later date.

Zora was born to Croatian immigrants Filipina and Joseph Polich, in Chariton, Iowa, in 1923. She was the ninth of eleven children. They lived on a farm where they raised livestock, corn and other crops.

In 1938, the family moved to Puyallup, Washington, where Zora graduated from Puyallup High School in 1942. During World War II, she worked as an executive bank secretary plus an additional job to support the war effort.

She had two close Japanese-American friends, and often talked about how they were held at the Puyallup fairground in the initial phase of their wartime internment. Zora and another friend visited often offering candy bars, friendship and moral support through the barbed wire. This concern for others was consistent throughout her life as she dedicated countless hours in service to the war effort, Dammasch State Hospital, and the Church, notably the St. Thomas More Altar Society and West Slope Guild.

After the war, her brother George took Zora to a dance where she met future husband, Harold Schumock who had been a submariner on the USS Picuda in the South Pacific. They married in Tacoma, Washington, in 1947, and for most of their 67 years of marriage, they lived in Portland.

Zora is survived by her children: Jim (Corinne), Cindy Lommasson (Jim), Randy, Kim Lopez (Miguel) and Eric (Bridget). She is also survived by grandchildren, Heather, Elise, Katie, Claire, Sasha, Maya, Timothy, Griffin, and Stella, and great grandchildren Kayla, Alexia and Adalynn. She was predeceased by husband Harold and all 10 of her siblings. Zora’s children attended Catholic schools in The Dalles, plus St. Thomas More, Jesuit High School, and St. Mary of the Valley.

Zora’s family thanks the caregivers at Bethany First Adult Care Home, and others who gave her so much love and comfort.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Zora’s name to the organizations she supported: Oregon Public Broadcasting, St. Thomas More Church and All Classical Portland Radio KQAC.