A photo Judy had taken for her family to remember her by. She
still had that same wonderful smile, in spite of it all, still that sparkle
in those lovely eyes... what a gal she was!
Her terrible trials now are past; her triumph has
begun.
Date: 4/18/01 9:40:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Dear Zinny:
I am sorry to tell you that Mom has passed away and gone to be with our Lord
and Savior. I cannot begin to thank you for your love and emails and friendship
or tell you how very much it meant to Mom, Dad and I. You are a very special
person and we thank you for all that you have done.
Mom passed away very peacefully with ALL of us next to her bed at the time.
God is truly awesome! I praise him and thank him that he allowed for us to
be with her when she passed. The last thing that she said was could she have
her prayer rope to hold. Even in death she turned to him as she did in life.
How truly blessed I am to have had her for a mother and an example to look
up to.
I wish you well and will pray that God comforts you at this time as he is
comforting all of us. Please let her friends in Senior Net know that she
has passed and please give them our love and thanks for their love and support.
Thank you so very much.
May God be with you.
Love,
~Joni and Jim (Dad)
Obit for paper....
April 19, 2001
Judith Lee Wiese 68 of Jacksonville, North Carolina; formerly of Clinton,
Mass., passed away at her home following an extended illness. She is survived
by her Husband of 49, years James J. Wiese, Sr., Sons John Bradford Wiese
and wife Elaine, James J. Wiese, Jr., and Daughter Joni A. Cooperrider. Her
grandchildren are Jennifer Wiese, Jamie Francis, Justin Francis, Austin
Cooperrider and Caity Sue Cooperrider. Brother Richard A. Lee, Sisters in-law
Thorne Lee, Jacqueline Hooker and Pat Wiese and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was a life member of the genealogical organizations "Order of the Crown
of Charlemagne" and the "Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters
of the Kings of Britain," as well as a member of "Daughters of the American
Revolution," and the "The United Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy,"
Montford Chapter. She served as a member of the DAV Auxiliary Unit #16 and
the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW Post 9133 (of which she was the founding
President).
The Viewing will be held in Jones Funeral Hall on Thursday, April 19, from
7 to 9 P.M. Services will be at 7:30 by the DAV Auxiliary and the VFW auxiliary
followed by a Panikhida by the Rev Father Andrew Nelko, US Navy Chaplain.
The funeral services will be held at St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Chapel
(Camp Johnson Chapel), on Friday 20 April at 10:30 A.M. followed by internment
at the Coastal Carolina Veterans Cemetery at 12:00 noon. A reception will
be held at the DAV dining hall for all relatives and friends following the
interment. At her request, instead if sending flowers, please send donations
to either, the DAV AUX. Unit 16 at 300 Sherwood Road Jacksonville, NC 28540
or The Onslow Home Health and Hospice-2013 Lejeune Blvd., Jacksonville, NC
28540.
Chronology
of Judy's ALS
What is ALS (Lou Gehrig's
Disease)?
This is not intended to be a site about ALS specifically. ALS is a sort
of "sidebar" to the life of a really beautiful human being. This site is
intended to be a memorial to that wonderful soul and spirit - a living wake,
as it were, so that we can remember that it is her life that matters and
celebrate it with her.
Judy and I were diagnosed within days of one another - she with ALS
and I with Stage 3B (inoperable) lung cancer. A while back, she and I talked
about which is worse: ALS, terminal cancer (and much of it is NOT terminal
these days, although lung cancer is usually a death sentence), or Alzheimer's
Disease... and I truly believe that anyone with ALS carries the heaviest
burden of all. That is not to diminish or negate the suffering of anyone,
or of the caretakers of anyone, with those other diseases - it's a personal
opinion.
Judy was an ongoing support for me, in spite of her own trials. I have
been the "victim" of a miracle and I prayed daily for the same for my dear
friend, for mercy for Judy - and for strength and courage and comfort for
all of the people who love her.
Meanwhile, I didn't know what to do... I wanted so badly to help somehow
and I could not. So this was really a selfish act - it was for me and my
grief - it was a small gift I could offer to Judy and all the other people
who love her. This and my ongoing prayers.
Here is a wonderful tribute from Betty (CBreaux); others will be posted
as they are e-mailed to me, and still others can be found in Judy's Guestbook
(see below):
You wonderful wonderful courageous woman, you!
I've saved your thoughtful messages to me over the recent death of my eldest
son. I felt awed by the openness of your sharing of your own plight without
so much as a whimper of self-pity. That you are loved by many is obvious
and well deserved. My hope is that I will make my exit from this life as
gracefully and lovingly as your example shows, Judy. We have so few models
for this, since most of us live in deep denial that the end will ever come
for us, personally.
Losing my son tapped into a level of the collective life we all share with
such vigor that I'm still reeling from the realization. It's as if we are
all a part of a great river, all of a piece but with rivulets, creeks, streams,
brooks, all expressing life in common and entering and leaving the whole
as needed. With each birth enhancing and each death diminishing the Great
River of Life. With this in mind, know that a tiny bit of me goes with you.
The rest of me (in this moment) is alert to your pain and prays for an easy
transition into whatever comes next ... .
Love,
Betty Reid Soskin
CBreaux - Betty's
Web Page
From AmieGA
Dear Judy,
We don't know each other well, but I think we exchanged some e-mails a few
years back, talking about antiques and old stuff, and giving to our children
while we're still able to see them enjoy it?
I'm so sorry to hear about your ALS, and I'm in awe of your fighting courage
and ability to still sound positive .... you and Zinny are both remarkable
women!
I wish you strength to continue while you can, and peace of mind when you
no longer can. You are a true role model.
Much love to you and your family, and many thanks to Zinny for creating your
web page for all to share.
Amie (Anne)
AmieGA's Web Page
From JoyTheClown
Dear Judy,
My life has been so enriched with the wonderful, inspiring people I have
met through the computer. When I think about the miniscule problems I face
every day, I'm ashamed! I've had my share of illnesses and operations, but
at 78 to be able to still do what I can is truly a blessing. I am like Zinny,
though, wish I could asorb some of your problems to lessen them for you.
It sounds like you have an angel for a husband--and he is lucky to have had
you for a wife. Thanks for your part in my cyber life, and I wish you strength
for what is still ahead. My prayers will be there for you.
Love, "Joy" the Clown.
This is part of a letter written to me by Judy's daughter, Joni. Joni
is a truly lovely woman and I hope she doesn't mind my posting this wonderful
tribute to her mother and father here. She was talking about things
to put on the site and this is about a picture of her mom.
I also want to send one that I think is the most beautiful picture Mom has
ever taken. She is holding my Daughter Caity when she was just a couple days
old. The light and the colors of the blanket and her complextion were perfect
and the loving look in her eyes almost takes your breath away. She and I
are so close and she had always wanted a girl for me. Mom is my very best
friend. Always has been, always will be. :-)
If you would like a few stories about her and Dad or the family I would be
happy to supply some for you. Some will make you laugh, some might make you
cry and others may just amuse or bore you. She has lead a wonderful life
and I am SO very blessed to have had her for my Mom.
If it were not for the strength that she has right now in dealing with this
DAMN (excuse my language please) disease, I do not think the rest of us would
be holding up so well. I can honestly say that I have never seen her so strong
and content in a way. Her faith in God is what sustains her and the knowledge
that she will see him, almost makes her anxious for an end. I pray daily
that it is peaceful...with Hospice there now I feel sure it will be. They
are even more wonderful than I thought they were.....and I used to be a volunteer
for them!
Mom and I have talked about music she wants played for her service and a
few things like that. I am the one to handle this for her right now, because
my Father cannot. He has enough to handle with Mom day to day. I praise God
for the WONDERFUL man that he is! If only I could find such a man! But I
am afraid he is the only one out there like that. You know, it's funny and
such a blessing that God can use something this terrible for his good. The
two of them are closer than I have ever seen them and more in love with each
other every day. God has granted us the time to say goodbye, but at a very
rough cost. It is up to us to be strong for her...but as Mom would say "Morrie
says it's ok to cry." We do that some.....
"This
is my son Justin. He is 16 and a senior in High School. He is very close
to Mom and Dad. He is in band as you can tell, but what the picture does
not say is that Music is his life! How I wish I knew what I wanted to do
with the rest of my life when I was only 16! He plans on getting his Masters
in Music and go on to teach...hopefully on a college level."
Did you ever see a brighter smile? I'd be proud too, Judy!!!
And yet another reason to be proud... this is Joni's eldest son, Jamie,
and Judy says he is a kid with his head on straight, a really wonderful thing
to hear in this day and age! When she sent this picture, Joni
said, "...Attached is a photo of my oldest son, Mom and Dads first grandchild.
He is a Freshman at Ohio State University and also a member of the Army National
Guard. He is also an Eagle Scout and very active in community politics. "
Please add your remembrances, good wishes, photos, and so forth to this
page. You can add them to the Guestbook (see below) or you can...
Send e-mail to
LadyZinnia .
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to Lady Zinnia's Web Site
