Tamara Dolores (Green) Courchene

Tamara Dolores Green Courchene was born on August 20, 1966, in Iona, Idaho, and passed suddenly from pneumonia on August 3, 2025, while sleeping next to her loving husband, Richard Courchene.

Tamara loved to be social and have fun, and she loved people. She served tables and was a bartender most of her life to take care of her children. Tamara loved her kids and would do anything she could for them.

Tamara battled addiction and fought hard and long to overcome so many obstacles that were put in front of her- all while graciously balancing working full time, being a mother, and having a lot of odds stacked against her. Her son, Ted James Woodhouse, attributes his sobriety, as well as growth and desire to be better, to his mom’s fearless ability to face the shame and fear, learn new behaviors, and start over again many, many times. Through it all, she maintained an attitude of faith in the universe and belief that all things happen as they should. Tamara had been years sober from her addiction and rebuilt a totally different life for herself.

Tamara believed in love- falling in love and being kind to anyone and everyone. She didn't have a judgmental bone in her body and was an advocate for the lost and broken. The underdog was her personal favorite, and she believed that everyone had worth and value, regardless of where they were right now.

She had a warm, welcoming smile, a raspy voice, and when she hugged you, it felt like the whole world stopped- and for a minute, you were safe from anything negative or scary. She helped countless people and animals along her journey, and she felt that everything was a sign that the universe loves us and that we are protected. She found immense beauty and significance in almost everything and looked at the world with childlike wonder.

Tamara’s heroes were Diana, Princess of Whales, and Marilyn Monroe. She loved beauty, makeup and anything that made you feel beautiful. She was hyper feminine and adored soft girly things.

She was unruly, sassy, and sometimes problematic. She had a very difficult life but always pulled through and learned from her mistakes. She taught people that it's better to be authentic and wrong than to be artificial and right. She didn't pay attention to material items or superficial things, instead, she paid attention to connecting with others, animals, and the stars.

She often said, "I'll walk just past the moon, and by the stars I'll wait for you”. She believed her soul and spirit would return to the stars and our creator in perfection, and we would be whole, happy, and everywhere all at once. She thought of death as a relief from duty, a new beginning …not an ending.

Tamara always said if it ever happened to her, that she would gladly walk back into the arms of her Father and step into the light. But she told us not to worry- because she would be here with us, watching over and protecting us. To her, it was a long-awaited reprieve from the worldly stress and chaos.

Her children were her inspiration, and she worked tirelessly to make them proud- right up until the very end. Our hearts may be shattered, and feel at times that it was too sudden, but everything is always right on time, and we take solace in the knowledge that she is at peace.

She will be severely missed, mourned, cherished and held in honor.

We're proud of you mama. We will count every minute and every second until we see you again. Tell grandma we miss her and check on us often.

She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Courchene; two children, Ted James Woodhouse, and Candice Marcille Woodhouse; as well as her personal hero and sister, Sharlene Miles; brother Odell Green; her ex-husband and father of her children, Ted Woodhouse; and countless others who adored her.

She is preceded in death by a long line of strong and resilient ancestors, as well as her grandparents, Katie Sahriah Owen Brown & Faramorze Brown; her adoring father, Grady Bud Green; her beautiful mother, Donna B Green; brothers, Richard Green, and Dahl Green; aunts, Wanda B Woodhouse, Gwendolyn Brown, Norma Brown, Virginia Brown; uncles, Albert Brown, Gerald Brown, Lyle Brown, and Harvey Brown; niece, Jonelle Olson Walker; sister-in-law, Sherri Olson; brother-in-law, Jewel Miles; and many friends who left too soon. A Celebration of Life will be held from 1-3 p.m. on what was supposed to be her 59th birthday, Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge.

We would like to invite anyone and everyone who loved her to share memories, photos, and their love for her. Everyone from every walk of life is welcome and will be embraced without judgement. Please do not refrain from fear of judgement or feelings of insignificance. She would have wanted you there to share what she meant to you.