[nfb-talk] Fwd: sad news, a member dies

[David Andrews]

>From: "Joyce Scanlan" <joyce.scanlan at earthlink.net>
>To: "Joyce Scanlan" <joyce.scanlan at earthlink.net>
>Subject: sad news, a member dies
>Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:39:39 -0600
>
>Hello everyone,
> 
>We have just learned that our longtime Federation member, Marie Whitteker, passed away this evening about half an hour ago, Thursday, February 15, at the age of 93.  She had been struggling with poor health for the past year and was soon to be moving into assisted living at Augustana Center in Minneapolis.  Anyone who knew Marie well would realize that she would not have looked forward to any care that lessened her independence, which she greatly valued.  
> 
>Marie joined the Federation in 1947 and was one of our members with the greatest number of years of service in our organization.  And her service to the blind of our area was extensive--many years as a member of the women's guild caring for the Home and Center for the Blind on Como and Eustis in St. Paul, serving on our state board of directors, contributing peanut butter and almond divinity to our annual bake sales, attending all our state and many national conventions as long as her physical health permitted, marching with us in demonstrations to reform custodial agencies serving blind people, and many other activities too numerous to list.  Marie was the recipient of our NFB of Minnesota Distinguished Service award at our 2005 state convention.  It was an honor very much deserved.
> 
>At this point, we have no information about the time of a memorial service for Marie.  It will probably be at the Augustana Chapel.  We'll be letting everyone know as soon as we hear.
> 
>I will always remember Marie traveling about with her dog guide and always enjoying social gatherings.  She attended Tom's 65th birthday party and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with everyone.  We had been planning to get together for dinner as soon as we could work it in.  Marie will be greatly missed by all of us.
> 
>Joyce