Old proverb: "To speak the names of the departed is to make them live again."

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Doris Fieg Holm's Daughter Resting At Home

After several inquiries from the family, your editor contacted Doris Fieg Holm about her daughter, Nancy Wiley, who was this year diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Here is the reply that was received:

"Thank you for your message asking about Nancy.  We are waiting with her, since she has been given some time - about six to nine months, and this was in June.  She is at home with hospice care, lots of family coming and going in an odd schedule. (Husband) Gary's family (son and sister), (Nancy's) sister Janet (McHenry), brother Matt, sister Roberta and husband Steve (Martinez) and I were (all) with them in July.

"Janet went down (Nov. 7) for a four-day weekend off from school.  Nancy's daughter, Rachel, visits from Fullerton, Calif. and (is able to) bring her work with her on the computer.  She does computer drafting for a design company in L.A. 

"I appreciate your loving concern for Nancy.  She says she is at peace and is resting comfortably at home.

"That is really all I can report right now.  It is hard to accept, and so painful to think of losing my daughter.  But Matt just returned after two weeks there, helping as best he could.  She sleeps a lot, is sweet and with good care.

"She elected to not accept any more radiation or chemo, since the after-effects last spring were so difficult.  We don't want her to suffer any more either.

"I am having trouble getting around, too ... using a walker, etc.  I had an MRI yesterday, and the results will go to a surgeon.  We shall see about that, too, soon, I hope.

"Sometimes life is hard, just plain hard."

Doris loves to hear from family members - please drop her a line, as they say!

Dr. Jeffrey Whiteside Dies at 63


Jeffrey Whiteside - Family photo

Fieg cousin Dr. Jeffrey Whiteside, age 63, died during the summer of 2015.  His passing took his family painfully unaware and the entire clan grieves with his siblings Marsha Whiteside Adams, Robert Whiteside and Anne Whiteside Still, and with his wife Kathi (Amick) and children Matthew Whiteside, Juliana Corderman and Andrea Cataldo.

Jeff was the second oldest child of the late Dr. Robert and Maxine Fieg Whiteside.

Jeff was board certified in internal medicine, critical care medicine and sleep medicine with special expertise in thirteen areas including asthma, lung cancer and sleep apnea.  He and Kathi, with partner Dr. Kevin Garrett, founded Fox Valley Pulmonary Medicine in Appleton Wis. in 1982.

To quote from the eulogy delivered by Dr. Maria Aristigueta, a colleague at Fox Valley Pulmonary, "Jeff was passionate about education.  He was actively involved in the Fox Cities Family Practice Residency Program and in the Northeast WI Technical College Respiratory Therapy Program.  As a result of this, many of these graduates have remained in the Fox Cities and we are a stronger community because of this."

Jeff was a member of many committees and president or chairman of countless medical boards but, in the office, he never lost sight of his patients as people and became more than just their physician.  He was their friend.

Jeff's life was celebrated by Pastor Jane Anderson at 2:00 p.m. on July 31, 2015 at the First Congregational Church of Christ in Appleton.  The service was, according to cousin Sue Fieg Williams, a very emotional one.  Sue, her husband, Ed, and her brother, Doug, attended the memorial.  Said Sue, "Rev. Jane Anderson spoke about Jeff's life accomplishments and family history.  Jeff's son, Matthew, added some memories of Jeff's life as a great father to his three children and grandchildren....  The service was followed by a reception in the church's lower level.  The receiving line of attendees was lined up out the door, another testament to Jeff's life.  God bless Kathi and family members...."

Both the program from the ceremony and Dr. Aristigueta's eulogy are available upon request to your editor.  Memorial contributions may be directed to Headwaters Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 332, Eagle River, WI 54521, or on-line at www.hsark9.org and clicking on the "donate" button.