Linda Anderson obituary

Linda L. Anderson (nee¢ McNeil) passed away at home surrounded by family and friends on Saturday December 1, 2007 at age 62 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Devoted and loving wife of Darryl A. Anderson; beloved daughter of Jack and Lois Watson; dear sister of Deborah Fay (Brian); cherished mother of L. Brooke Hawryszko (Mark), Sameena Kluck (Tom), Zareena Koch (Randy), Shabbir Imber Safdar (Sarah); beloved friend and stepmother of Wendy Ruona (Brian) and Curt Anderson (Wanda); loving grandmother to Cole, Carson, Chloe and Carlee Hawryszko, Sophia Kluck, Zahrah, Max and Zoe Koch, Moishe Imber Safdar, Samuel and Eleanor Ruona, and Brady Schneider; and niece of Marguerite French.

Linda touched many lives during her years of nursing. She was a devoted Director of Nurses and devoted to her husband, children, grandchildren, parents, and many friends. Linda was young at heart, giving, fun-loving and made a lasting impression on those who met her.

Services: Visitation, Monday, December 3^rd 4-8pm at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 9907   Sappington Rd., Sunset Hills MO.  Memorial service will be at Laclede Groves Chapel, 723 S. Laclede Station Road, Webster Groves, on Tuesday, December 4^th, at 11:00a.m. Graveside committal ceremony will be for family only. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

• The Cancer Center at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, 3015 North Ballas Rd,   St. Louis MO;
• Christ Care Fund at Lutheran Senior Services; or
• Linda Anderson Nursing Scholarship at Lutheran Senior Services.

[On a personal note, thank you to everyone who has sent me notes of support and sympathy.  My family and I all appreciate it greatly.  I'm not turning comments on here, but you can send me notes to shabbir@safdar.net.

I have no expectation of anyone to donate, but if you are the kind of person who feels compelled to do so, I suggest giving to the nursing scholarship fund c/o Lutheran Senior Services at the Laclede Groves address above.  My mother loved nursing and had a powerful impact on the practice of it.  She did things with nursing care that other senior care facilities will be attempting to emulate for years to come.  Because she fought so hard for her staff and her patients, she inspired incredible loyalty which was key to creating this level of quality.

Having spent the last week with my family caring for her in her coma, I gained a new appreciation of the impact that quality care can do for the comfort of both recovering and terminal patients.  Turning her every four hours, giving her meds, and working to avoid pressure sores gave me a quick crash course in just how much of a difference the caregiver can make in the patient's comfort.  Even comatose patients have a spectrum of comfort, and they will vocalize to tell you, though they aren't conscious.  The slightest curiosity in the caregiver can help spot problems before they become health issues, and good nurses bring that level of detail to their work.  My family and I did it for a week and it took 150% of ourselves to do it for one patient, and we burned out a few of us in the process.  I have no idea how she and her nurses do it well for hundreds with aggressive inspectors leaning over their shoulders.

She was one of the best examples the profession has to offer, and every nurse like her makes the world a significantly better place.  If you want to create more nurses like her and feel compelled to give something, you can donate to the scholarship fund.  -Shabbir]