Colleagues, students, friends, and family of murder victim Prudence Hockley will come together at two separate memorial services to say goodbye to the beloved teacher.

Hockley passed away on Christmas Eve after being attacked by an ex-boyfriend.

The first memorial service will be held at Woodinville High School where she taught English.

Students, parents, colleagues, and alumni will come together in the school's gymnasium on January 12 at 7 p.m.

A community memorial service will follow on January 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Center For Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St.

In lieu of flowers for the memorial, the family would greatly appreciate a donation to a memorial fund to assist the family with funeral costs and education expenses for Prudence Hockley's 13 year old daughter.

To make donations please send checks to:

The Prudence Hockley Benevolent Account
BECU PO Box 34044
Seattle, WA
98124-1044

Christmas Eve homicide victim was beloved teacher
Dec 29, 2011

The victim of the Christmas Eve murder in North Seattle was 55-year-old teacher and single mother, Prudence Hockley.

Seattle Police reports that around 11 p.m. on December 24, Hockley had stepped outside her home in the 300th block of NW 74th St to talk to a friend. Witnesses heard voices followed by a loud thump.

Hockley's 13-year old daughter went outside and found her mother on the ground, unconscious. The suspect got in his car and fled the scene.

Hockley was transported to Harborview Medical Center where she passed away from a head injury. On December 28, homicide detectives arrested the suspect.

While the case remains an active and on-going homicide investigation, hundreds of Hockley's friends, students, and colleagues are sharing photos and memories on a Facebook page created in her memory.

Hockley was a beloved English teacher at Woodinville High School where she was known for her high expectations and strong relationships with students, according to Kurt Criscione, Principal at Woodinville High School.

"Ms Hockley was an extraordinary teacher who was passionate about learning, reading, and writing," Criscione said in a statement.

"Hockley was my English teacher junior year. That year my father passed away, and Hockley was a huge support to me for the months that followed," said 18-year-old WHS graduate Anna Berlin, who created the Facebook page. "I have always idolized Hockley and was very inspired by her vivacious way of living, her unique ability to see only the good and beauty in things, and of course, her style. Hockley's beauty shined through her in every way possible; internally and externally."

Friend Clair Fenton first met Hockley when she was the preschool teacher of Hockley's daughter.

"Prudence was my favorite parent I ever had. She loved her daughter so much, and fostered creativity with her in so many different ways," Fenton said. "She also brought something fantastic out in me. It's as if everyone she met, she taught them something, or made them think differently about something. She had this energy that was contagious."

Fenton later became Hockley's roommate, Hockley's daughter's first soccer coach, and a neighbor.

"Her house always smelled good, there were beautiful colors everywhere, and wonderful books filling the bookcases," she recalled. "It was so fun to see what Prudence would wear to every game. She loved bright colors, she had really cool tattoos, and her hair was always a different color, and a different style. I will miss the color and spark she brought to everybody around her."

Woodinville High School has made counseling services available to its staff and students to help them deal with the tragic loss.

The date and place of a memorial service has yet to be announced but we will update the story when more information becomes available.