Jaelithe Rhinehart

Jaelithe Marie Rhinehart, 29, passed away Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Jaelithe was born on June 29, 1987, in Anaheim, Calif., to Michael Rhinehart and Trina Menees.

Jaelithe is survived by her fiancé, Steve Watkins; sisters Miscelleana Tsalikis, Kershanda Sullivan and Tanay Nicholson; brothers Alex Rhinehart and Kace Menees; and nephews Elius Fausett, Akren Fausett and Konstantine Tsalikis.

Jaelithe may have been known by many names — JJ, Jae, Siter, Legs, Pookie — but what she was known for was her big, caring heart; the light she carried within her smile; the way she held out her arms with love for any and everyone she met. The art on her body wrote a story about her life and kept her most important moments alive. Jaelithe was a pure soul in the way she saw the world, which is exactly how she lived her 29 short years: beautiful and full of life.

“Like the emptiness and hole she will leave behind in the world of food. A love of hers since before junior high. She would create and mix her own creations. Baking the example of artistic license. No recipe went unchanged. Some improvements. Some great failures. But all were brought to life by her love to cook and her cooking dance! Armed with both, she neither feared nor favored any culinary challenge. In her absence, stomachs and hearts alike shall walk but half full.” Love for eternity, Papaya.

Jaelithe grew up in Orange County, Calif., with her sister, Miscelleana, and they shared their lives together as one. From playing Barbie dolls for hours to writing pages together in their own Workshop, Jaelithe and Miscelleana were inseparable. In August 2009, Jaelithe met Steve Watkins who became the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with when they got engaged in March 2014. Together with Steve and her first and only pup, Leanna, Jaelithe moved to Idaho in 2013. It was then that she grew a strong and special relationship with her mother, who had lived in another state most of her life. Jaelithe grew and learned from her little sisters, Kershanda and Tanay. Their bonds grew stronger over the years, and they got each other through moments that only sisters could.

Jaelithe was taken from this world far too soon, and our hearts ache for the years that will continue on without her. Whether it stemmed from a momentary meeting or a decades-long friendship, the life lessons taught to anyone who had the luck to cross paths with Jaelithe will impact them for life: Never hesitate to splash in puddles; You’re never too old to dance and sing in front of strangers; and No matter how far you fall, you always, ALWAYS must get back up again. We love you and hope you find a seat next to Grandpa Morris, where you both can look down on us, smiling with laughter.

“Dear My Moon, I will always keep you in my heart as a source for me to gather strength and courage from. You have taught me that happiness and kindness are the key to living a great life. I was the sun, you were my moon, and as the sun illuminates the moon you will shine down upon me forever now. I’ll never keep writing my story without you.” I love you my sweet baby, your Sun and Stars, Steve.

A celebration of Jaelithe’s life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, at Moon’s Lounge, 1901 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls, ID 83854.