Baseball, Bridge, Baking

Fern R. Schultz Febuary 17, 1911 - January 10, 2010

"Comforting is the best way to describe our experience at the Hospice House. My mother Fern received compassionate and quality care from the Hospice Alliance team of professionals. How comforting for our family to know she was in such good hands."
- Kathleen Dickow

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Fern was a school teacher whose early experience included teaching in a one-room schoolhouse from the age of 16 until 25 when she married Dick Schultz. This was during the Depression and once married, she was forced to give up teaching--a wife could not have a job if her husband did! The Schultzes had three children, Richard Jr, Kathleen and Lee. They ran Dick's Texaco Station in Mukwonago. In her early 50's, Fern obtained her degree from UW-Whitewater. She returned to teaching in another one-room school in Waukesha County and later on, taught the developmentally challenged. Fern was always very independent and carried that through as she aged, not wanting to be a burden to her family.
 
Watching Brewers baseball games on television, playing bridge and Scrabble were favorite pasttimes--and visits could not interfere with any of these activities! Baking cookies for her son-in-law Chet is a special memory for Fern's family. When she was in the Hospice House and unable to bake, Krissy Molinaro of Krissy's Klean Team (cleaning services at Hospice House) made sure Chet had homemade cookies!

Kathleen, a volunteer with Hospice Alliance and a registered nurse, knew she wanted Hospice Alliance to care for her mother. In her heart she believed the end was near, even though medically it was not so apparent. Upon Fern's discharge from the hospital, Kathleen placed this conviction in God's hands and Fern was moved into the Hospice House where she passed peacefully 10 days later.

Fern's family concluded, "Hospice Alliance gave us such peace of mind to know we were not alone--and what to expect--as Fern faced her last days. The supportive, loving staff members were truly comforting!"