Mussette Whitney's Obituary
An obituary is supposed to be a tribute to the life of someone who has died. While it may include SOP,'s, like relatives, activities, relevant names and dates, the main focus should be, "Who was this person?" On behalf of my family, I, Jane Whitney, invite you to join me in this tribute to Mussette Cary Whitney. No time on earth for any life is long enough to share with those we love. Nothing prepares our hearts for their death. One never realizes that there is always a last time. At 5:17pm on Monday, May 3, 2004, Mussette Cary Whitney died due to pneumonia, and complications from multiple strokes, as well as other enough long-standing medical conditions to finance a pharmacy, including vascular dementia, and a serious heart condition. An otherwise ordinary day, April 11, 2004 exploded with the quite unexpected news that our family,'s most cherished person,'s relatively minor health condition under control of a very capable and imaginative specialist M.D., compelled a 911 call; then the unexpected, unexplained decline in health in the hospital, followed by this devastating death of the heart of our family. In just over two weeks, an elderly woman,'s batch of health problems conspired while under competent medical care to mug her to death. Result: Our hearts were shattered! Mother was born in Crocker, Missouri, on June 9, 1915 and lived in Illinois all her life until 1943 when her husband (whom she married on June 8, 1940) joined the Army Air Corps. Thus began a life of distinction, dignity, and joy. The Whitneys were the love of each others,' lives. Mr. Whitney cherished his good fortune in winning Mother,'s heart and his compassionate, loving and patient caring for her as her vascular dementia robbed her of literally any short term memory for the final decade of her life was not only admirable but truly noble. After her husband was released from his Army Air Corps duties (retaining his commission), the Whitneys moved to Denver, Colorado where Mother took up gardening and ice skating, and demonstrated both a green thumb and the gracefulness of Fred Astaire on ice. She was educated at the University of Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Illinois, and completed her education at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois. Mrs. Whitney led an interesting and often distinguished life, and was valued by all who knew her as a remarkable person ,- full of life, with intelligence, wit, moxie, common sense, character, and sensitivity as well as heart and wisdom; she disarmed people with her humor, charm, and optimism. Mother was routinely considerate and lifted the morale of everyone; thus everyone felt lucky to know her. She was a captivating public speaker, realizing that regardless of her subject, her irresistible, keen sense of humor could hold her audience even if the subject was library paste. Although always genuinely positive, Mother,'s gentle nature became tempered steel when she recognized wrongdoing, unethical, illegal, or immoral conduct. She would fly into action like Dick Tracy on the case; result: an abashed culprit not likely to cross one particular beautiful red head ever again. And if the behavior of the miscreant was adversarial to her children, "Katie, Bar The Door!" Mother on the warpath was worthy of Alexander the Great.Her poise could not be shaken; she faced down any adversary with her uncommon level-headed civility. Mother was in love with life and this happy nature glowed like a neon sign. Despite all her many distinguished achievements, Mother remained modest and humble, with her mettle shaming the mean-spirited into constructive optimists and often even allies. Because Mother expected the best of people, she usually evoked it. It just seemed that instead of believing them- selves to be witness to naiveté, the wrong-headed crossed over to Mother,'s side and still felt victorious.Always solicitous of others, Mother would not hesitate to help people with even minor complaints, while concealing her own infirmities. She never gave gratuitous advice, but when asked, she spoke with the sagacity of an oracle. I attribute Mother,'s popularity and her magnetism to her ever-present and unfailing ability to evoke the best from all she met. She always acted as though she was both thrilled and honored to talk with people who were otherwise ignored by others. Mother did not evaluate with whom it was worth being seen or talking with, but eagerly took true interest in all kinds of people and claimed to learn from all.Now just consider the life of Mussette Cary Whitney in context of the so-called American century. Mother went from Model T,'s to Jaguars; from party-line wind-up telephones to cell phones; she watched as passenger trains were left in the dust by the Concorde. In Mother,'s day, high school boys wore corduroy pants with clean, tucked-in shirts. Today we see the daily school exodus of teenaged boys wearing those huge jeans barely clinging to their hips. Within just the last decade, sloppy passes for spiffy; with clean-cutlessness universally embargoed, both sexes of children routinely wear long pants. Girls, once not even allowed to arrive at school in snow pants, now wear as little as they can get away with. Embedded jewels are considered stylish whereas in Mother,'s day they would have advertised candidacy for the loony bin.Mother loved animals. We had, seriatim, cocker spaniels, German shepherds, Cairn terriers and of course when I was a young tomboy, Mother always acted delighted with all the garter snakes, turtles, horny toads, etc. as well as injured mice I rescued from carnival gambling wheels and injured baby birds that I routinely and proudly brought home to my "hospital," a batch of marshmallow boxes stuffed with cotton to immobilize the patients. Mother was active, constructive and productive in every community in which we lived; we moved all my childhood, so Mother had a lot of opportunities to express her inestimable talents and her generous spirit.In Montgomery, Alabama, where Col. Whitney was assigned to Maxwell AFB, Mrs. Whitney was accepted as an international member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a service organization for adult women. She also acted as head spotter for the 825th AFB group which my father commanded. In Montgomery, Alabama, Mother was reservation chairman of the Maxwell Officer,'s Wives Club and introduced a new system which ensured everyone who applied received a permanent reservation for the Club,'s luncheons, with a permanent name tag, etc. Mother also served as Hostess Chairman. Bridge Chairman, and was on the Board of Governors. Throughout my Father,'s USAF career, Mother,'s achievements at each base made The Air Force Times and all civilian community main newspapers photographed her and wrote the relevant article about her achievements. She was one of the few women to shoot a hole in one on the Maxwell East Course. She participated in the little theatre groups when they existed at the USAF bases where my father was assigned and she played all the starring roles. Often the theatre company toured the entire state performing at each military facility. Lady Bracknell was never more beautiful than when played by Mother. Everywhere assigned in the USAF, Mother accompanied my father (obviously she was not with him during WWII & in 1960- 1961). My father went alone to Korea, with Mother and her younger daughter remaining in Lakewood; thus Mother continued her routine for amusement. She played golf and duplicate bridge, ice skated and also held various offices on the Board if not also the President of the base,'s USAF Community Support. Since Mother traveled abroad to visit me several times during my diplomatic career, often my friends became Mother,'s friends too, for she was truly "young at heart;" and every time she left my house after a visit, I would find affectionate little notes full of love and encouraging advice, hidden all over the house.In each newspaper article or letter of commendation from each Base Commander, Mother was always described as "versatile" (an understatement!) All these Base CO,'s were General Officers (of 2 or 3 star flag level) of long exposure to the services The USAF Wives Clubs provided. Mother was always valued, praised, and described as having instituted new programs to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the various activities she headed. In Denver, Colorado after WWII, Mother was President of the Reserve Officers,' Association Ladies in Denver.For each of these efforts, Mother received Certificates of Appreciation signed by the base commanders and dozens of letters praising her valued services signed also by each base commander. An example of Mother,'s service spirit is the big role she played in coordinating the USAF Women,'s Groups with Red Cross and other national or international organizations. She was described as especially effective at raising funds for these various organizations. Also often, Mother was chief hostess at special luncheons she initiated. Mother was a real leader and it showed in all she did. At each base, Mother eventually became the Senior Representative or Chairman of all the various wives communities. She even organized charitable events when our USAF family was trusted to live on the famous Ft. Douglas, still to date the only non-US army family to be so honored. Also in addition to all the above activities at each base, Mother continued to teach. The letters by all the senior officers at each USAF Base described Mother as versatile, sensitive to culture and needs of the enlisted and NCO students, hence her consistently outstanding guidance of her students to greater levels of achievement than had been evoked by her predecessors. Mother set a high standard for her successors to live up to in all she did. Her energy appeared boundless; she was consistently praised as efficient, conscientious, courageous, loyal, mature, amiable, versatile, personable, a master of her subject (English at both elementary and H.S. levels), especially commended for the strong rapport she achieved with all her students, makes their progress rapid and benefiting from Mother,'s compassion for her students. There were no drop- outs from any of her classes, an unmatched performance record as an English instructor of USAF personnel. That she was easy on the eyes- stunningly beautiful- did not hurt either. Mother played "by ear" making up her own lesson plans, often improvising to adjust to unique needs of some students. Mother knew instinctively how to motivate people to learn under her peerless guidance. In everything she did, Mother won the respect and cooperation of her co-workers as well as her students. Moreover, in every office she held in The Officer,'s Wives Clubs she was able to significantly increase enlistment of volunteer "employees". One letter from Lt. General described Mother,'s achievements in this context as "wonderful" and expressed his gratitude to her for the enhanced recognition she achieved for his command. Wide spread publicity was given throughout the USAF publications of Mother,'s contributions to the many activities she led, describing Mother,'s role of leader as seminal to the Command,'s recognition for being the best Wives Program in the entire USAF. Mother was also commended for the "enormous support" she supervised as provided to families transferring in high volume and frequency throughout the command. She was described in one letter as having set a "noble" example to others and as untiringly helpful and unselfishly devoted and uniquely qualified as a "genuine leader". It seems clear that Mother strengthened the organization and extended the services of every activity she led. Clearly, my mother was a paragon at everything she tried to do.I think Mother inspired instant trust because she was so obviously just plain good. Her letters of condolence or congratulations were masterpieces of empathy; sometimes she expressed such sentiments by writing poetry.Mother saw the glass totally full. Blooming with goodwill and with that irresistible twinkle in her eye, she made every occasion she attended a happy celebration of the joy of life. She was magnetic and people sought out her company as though she were a trophy. A natural wit, after the dementia took over, Mother made puns. When she heard the TV, which she could see only peripherally because of macular degeneration, she could hear, and thus instinctively like the high school English teacher she had been from 1938 through WWII, she corrected the grammar of all the TV commercials and programs, as well as RNs, MDs, and all health care employees of the several institutions that took care of her. Mrs. Whitney was so incisive, she characteristically said what it took many days later for columnists and TV analysts to opine to the world. Mother lived by the Golden Rule: happiness is mankind,'s greatest achievement; indeed, Mother believed one had a duty to be happy. Mother also believed the sole route to happiness was giving love by good deeds and by positive example. In other words God offers everyone choices, love is a life of good deeds and that is the right choice. My greatest happiness was sharing my life with Mother in our unique friendship. Because Mother and I were non-traditional best friends, we saw ourselves as symbiotic, indeed two sides of the same coin ,- we just matched. In fact, we were a perfect fit! Mother beamed with pride when she spoke of me and I did the same when I spoke of her, I,'m told. All my life I tried to make her proud of me. She was an intuitive person who inspired everyone she met, and made everyone feel valuable, saying only good things to and about people. A kind, true, gentlelady, as sweet and sincere as a Girl Scout, every day Mother was calm, cheerful, and confident that good would always come out ahead and for her it always did. Mother had it all: brains, beauty, character, common sense, wit, grit, and heart; she was witty, wise, kind, gentle, with a sunny nature; she was sensitive and fun-loving, and at the same time, she was always dignified and elegant. Hard as it may be to believe, Mother had no faults; God indeed created a perfect soul when He made Mother. She was a beacon of virtue to everyone she met. She had no enemies. Mother never expressed anger or irritation, only disappointment. Mother had "class" and was always dignified, never gossiping or criticizing anyone. Eventually Jane will write a book about this unique and extraordinary woman, who managed to lead a creative life in otherwise pedestrian circumstances. Jane already has an agent who is eager to tout the book. Indeed, Mrs. Whitney should have been named "Happy" because her contagious optimism and tolerance evoked the same from all who crossed her path. She was both wise and fun-loving, turning routine chores into amusing adventures. Her compassion was as positively blindfolded by her keen sense of righteousness, similar to the statue of Lady Justice herself, albeit in the harbor of her heart, not of New York City. When Mr. and Mrs. Whitney danced together, their skill was such that other dancers paused to watch them, as they were worthy of the Roxie.Thusly did Mother live a life of distinction, dignity, and joy. Everyone she ever met became addicted to her happy nature, her true blue character, her spunk, her brains, and her unfailing goodwill. Mother literally glowed with the joy of life and she literally looked for ways to praise people to empower them. This wins loyalty and inspires people to want more praise for virtuous behavior to which they then become addicted and find themselves wanting to please her and become so self-confident that they became the kind, or the courageous, or gentle, or sunny- natured souls as they saw themselves reflected in Mother as in a mirror. Her unfailing high spirits survived her many illnesses and injuries without complaint or bitterness. Mother loved life and everyone she met found her joy in life contagious.The Whitney motto was: we move our house but never our home. In 1950, Mr. Whitney was recalled to the USAF (created in 1947) and assigned to Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas, (from 1950-1951). While her husband preceded her in 1951 to his USAF assignment to Rhein Main AFB, near Frankfurt, Germany, Mother and her two daughters remained at Lackland AFB where Mother taught herself to play golf with gusto, and was a dead-eye natural athlete winning golf balls the first time she ever played. Among her many talents, Mrs. Whitney played music by ear, preferring the piano; she used to say, "If you can hum it, I can play it." She also became a fearless swimmer and was active in the PTA at her daughter's schools where she contributed ideas based on her own teaching experience. She was a whiz Director of duplicate trophy at a McChord AFB tournament from the ACBL in 1960; she sewed like Singer himself; she knitted professionally, (without patterns) generously teaching experts in the knitting shops her tricks like how to knit, not sew, the sleeves to the body of the sweaters. After her many strokes, Mother could no longer knit, which she had so loved, so she became a critic of the news commentators on TV to enlighten us all with her wisdom and insight. Above all, Mother believed the main quality necessary to happiness and for success is priceless good manners: the key that opens the drawer containing all the other keys, to wit: respect, empathy, objectivity, neutrality, and flexibility as well as a positive attitude with unflinching optimism.At Frankfurt, Germany, where Col. Whitney was assigned from 1951-1954, Mrs. Whitney was Vice President of the German-American Women,'s Club and was appreciated for her eagerness to learn German and her infectious good will, and tact, worthy of a diplomat. Mother had vision and backbone. She was charitable, and had true strength of character. In Germany when I told her of the German children living with their parents in shacks in the woods where I rode my bicycle, she loaded up my bike baskets with eggs, milk, all sorts of fruit, rice, and other good healthy food, and I learned the pleasure of being the "Good Fairy" who anonymously gives what someone else needs yet spares them the embarrassment of accepting a hand-out and makes them feel they have earned the recognition themselves. When I told Mother that some men and boys in the woods threw rocks at me, Mother said, "They are afraid of you, Janie." Breathtaking wisdom to offer a child. Tolerant, even for a defeated enemy, she always said only good things about people, yet had the grit and iron will worthy of an Olympic Champion. Mother greeted life and everyone with her sensational trust that all forms of life were as happy to see her as she was to welcome them. Certainly, no one who ever met Mother ever forgot her and many told me they wished she were their mother. She sent me tapes of her piano playing when I was abroad so I would not feel so lonely at special family times like Thanksgiving, Christmas or my birthday.From 1954 to 1958, Col. Whitney was assigned to teach Air Science (ROTC) at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Here Mrs. Whitney found herself a "faculty wife." While continuing to read voraciously, she taught adult high school English at night. She continued her interest in contract bridge, golf, sewing, knitting, and endured the series of teenage boys who came to our door as the older daughter became a teenager. She was active in little theatre work, starring in a series of local productions. When an LDS person came to our door to attempt to recruit us as "Mormons", Mother would hand them a copy of "Presbyterian Life"! Mother poured often at University teas and we all learned about the LDS religion and what a "Jack Mormon" was (someone who does not stick to the Word of Wisdom, e.g. drinks coffee, coke, etc.). Mother was frequently asked at these teas to pour sherry into a teacup!My father was next assigned to McChord AFB. From 1958-1951, Mother continued her volunteer work, sharing all her brilliant organizational skill to improve the McChord and Ft. Lewis educational system and recording for her successors all the techniques she had found to work well with each type (nationality, age, foreign language, etc.) student likely to be encountered in adult education. In 1961, when Col. Whitney returned from a 13 month isolation assignment to Korea, he found he was assigned to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama (1961 to his retirement in 1967). Again Mother used her talent as a teacher, teaching basic grammar school level English at Ft. Lewis and H.S. English and English as a foreign language at McChord. She still found time to join The Lakewood Players and starred in many of its productions, especially the melodramatic Oscar Wilde plays. She always brought down the house. She continued her normal activities as well, to wit: golf and contract bridge and was respected for her tolerance of less skilled players and an uncanny ability to encourage and teach players who lacked confidence.After retiring in Lakewood, in 1967, the Whitney,'s joined the Oakbrook Golf and Country Club, attracted by the superb cook and excellent golf course. Mrs. Whitney was a wonderful person whose distinguished life deserves no less than a full account of her many activities and achievements. This glorious creature had a heart with more gold than Ft. Knox. Thus Jane considers that her awards and recognition in the Foreign Service (diplomatic corps of the USA), are as much Mrs. Whitney,'s achievements as her own. I took all her wise advice and made good as a result. Mrs. Whitney taught her daughters to expect the best of everyone and taught Jane to criticize by complimenting people. This is not "killing with kindness"; it is teaching a mean person how to earn praise and thus become pleasing to others and to themselves. Mother had the courage of a lioness protecting her cubs; she did not display anger to her children but rather disappointment, far more effective; she read constantly (she majored in English Literature in college), and loved to learn new things. As a young woman she rode horses with abandon, grit, and panache, and was a sure shot. Governor Booth Gardner appointed Mrs. Whitney to the Pierce County Library Board, where she thrilled all the employees by visiting every unit in the county, the first Board Member ever to do so. The computerizing of the library's inventory was Mother,'s idea. Before long she became president-elect of the Trustees Division of the Pacific Northwest Library Association. She collected antiques of all kinds and when entertaining guests was routinely complimented as a phenomenal hostess. I followed all the advice she gave me about manners, values, advice on how to behave, and how to interpret other people,'s behavior and so I have had a successful and happy life but Mother deserves all the credit. Without her wise advice, I would never have achieved all I have. I owe Mother everything, including, of course, my very life itself; seen thusly, my achievements are really Mother,'s; Mother made me who I am and fortunately God created a wise angel when He made Mother. Mother was enchanting. She really had no faults , an objective view stated by everyone she ever knew. Everyone whose life she touched was bewitched by her wit, wisdom, and plain good will and love of life. She was also valiant and gallant ,- you wanted to please her and do your best for her. Mrs. Whitney,'s charm was irresistible. Her wit was irrepressible. Her common sense was contagious. Her intelligence was compelling. She craved being in company, yet treasured solitude as well. Her character was straight as a dye; her spirit was invincible. She had a merry nature, and a generous heart, an unimpeachable character, the mettle of a war hero, the manners of any etiquette book. Glowing with intelligence, she could talk to anyone at any level about almost anything and felt at home. Blessed with the best temperament of anyone I have ever known, indeed she was always "at home." Jane always said the best thing she could do for anyone was to introduce them to her mother. Mrs. Whitney tried to teach her children every quality necessary for a happy and successful life. She also had the temperament of Job. I cannot remember a time in my life when Mother was not enduring some illness or injury, but she never complained; her act was a regular Katherine Cornell, worthy of an Oscar. Mother had grits and fortitude; guts, courage, and was valiant. "Why should I talk about it? It won,'t help me and it will just bore everyone else," she would say. She always trusted her doctors and did exactly what they told her to do. She believed their medicines and/or methods would help her and that they were doing all they knew to help her; often however, the doctors,' efforts failed to alleviate Mother,'s condition and no pain reliever ever actually reduced her pain, but Mother would just keep suffering on, never letting on except to me and the doctor concerned. She just maintained her same consistent positive sunny nature. She obviously was incapable of self-pity, and was highly disciplined.While Col. Whitney was assigned to McChord AFB (1958- 1962) Mother was active in many Lakewood good works, as well as avid in many sports and the Lakewood Players, and taught night school, grammar school English, as well as English as a foreign language at both McChord and Ft. Lewis. For this she received commendations from all senior officers at the base responsible for the education program. She was the unofficial cheer-up committee. She went to her many doctor appointments dressed like a fashion model. Mother,'s idea of casual dress was a St. John pants suit with a silk scarf. A beautiful woman, she was always impeccably groomed and elegantly dressed and always dignified and poised. Among Mrs. Whitney,'s many distinguished accomplishments while she served as an appointee of the Base Commander as Coordinator of the McChord Family Services Center at McChord AFB was a program Mother initiated called "Blue Bark." Before Mother,'s new initiative, the main support the center provided was a basic household kit (sheets, towels, dishes, pots and pans, etc.) and referral to a financial advisory service if needed as well as general orientation programs for the new arrivals to inform them of their eligibility for USAF benefits. Her new idea was to provide a variety of support to the widows and children of USAF personnel killed in uniform. For her outstanding work, especially her novel "Blue Bark" idea, Mrs. Whitney was awarded the Air Defense Command Commendation Certificate presented on September 3, 1959, by Maj. Gen. Von R. Shores, commander of the 25th Air Division, and Brig. Gen. Frank W. Gillepie, commander of the Seattle Air Defense Sector. Presentation was also made of a 1000 hours additional bar to Mrs. Whitney,'s family services pin, the first of its kind to be given to a volunteer at McChord AFB. Today it is Mrs. Whitney,'s program that is used by all the service branches all over the world, currently helping the hundreds of widows and children of military personal killed or injured in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. Inasmuch as mother,'s program was introduced over 35 years ago, her initiative has helped thousands of military dependents thus far.Mother also employed her phenomenal organizational skills to all our many moves. Her system combined with her flawless foresight and a decided knack for decorating had each new house almost totally settled in the very first day the movers came with our goods and chattel; I was "books and kitchen" as I love to organize things. At Maxwell AFB, Mother taught night school English as a foreign language (The USAF could then draft non-immigrant visa holders). These men represented many trades, professions and countries and did not share a universal common language. Thus Mother did not use a book but taught via pantomime and her other imaginative techniques. She and her "boys" enjoyed watching the verbal epiphanies as they snaked around the group as at least two students in many combinations found they shared a foreign language with at least one of another pair of them, and could thus pass on the meaning of what Mother intended them to learn. While in Montgomery at Maxwell AFB, we had a distinguished German guest, a Frankfurt University Professor who was also a colleague of Jean Monet, famous as the proponent for a United Europe. Mother seized the oars and made an appointment for our guest with Governor George Wallace. At first, never drawing breath, he went on and on about the "home of the Confederacy" totally eclipsing our guest,'s queries about the Black people,'s marches then being clubbed and water-hosed by the police, with Martin Luther King in jail. After Mother had endured some two hours of this spirited discussion between the Rebel Governor and the former Nazi, Mother broke in with her brief and calm sermon on the value of democracy,'s respect for the dignity of every person in the diversified world. By the time George Wallace gallantly and strutting like a peacock escorted Mother and the German lady to their car, Mr. Wallace had almost become a Yankee, under Mother,'s spell as happened with her routinely. I relate this story as characteristic of the way an encounter with my Mother would unfailingly alter prejudice into tolerance, which did eventually happen to Wallace.This Glorious Creature whose life was a blessing to all who knew her is survived by her beloved husband Robert, to whom she was married just shy of 64 years, (she would have been 89 years old on June 9, 2004); her cherished daughters: Jane (now retired from the Foreign Service) and Karen (a former executive of a major US company, who now works freelance); as well as valued grandchildren: Whitney, clearly intelligent and with an endearing personality, but coping with learning disabilities, is a food service employee, and Neale, a former US National Champion ice skater, and now president of his own computer company in Los Angeles, California. Both Whitney and Neale retain their father,'s surname, Smull.As the Whitney family would like to establish a memorial in Mrs. Whitney,'s name, the family would appreciate any donations from anyone who would like to contribute to this cause. Just send checks to Jane Whitney, 12424 Rebecca Dr. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499, marked at the bottom left corner "for M. C. Whitney Memorial Fund." A special trust account at a local bank will receive these funds and disperse them for worthy charitable causes, e.g., St. Clare Hospital and Mt. View Funeral Home, as well as organizations devoted to finding a way to fend off dementia and prevent pneumonia in elderly hospitalized people. The Whitney family thanks you, in advance, for any contributions to this memorial to be named for a uniquely gifted woman, whose exemplary life enriched and/or enhanced the lives of all she ever met. As many have said of her, "She is the nicest person I ever knew; she changed my life by bringing out the best in me."The Whitney,'s would like to extend special gratitude to the employees of Mountain View Funeral Home all of whose skill and empathy have made our personal tragedy more bearable. The Whitney family would like to commend as well the skill and compassion of the many employees of St. Clare Hospital, RNs, and MDs; also the Whitney family is grateful for the conscientious and caring spirit of the employees of the Franciscan Hospice Service, as well as the capable RNs dispatched by the Maxim Company.Jane would also like to express most sincere appreciation to those from all over the world and US who sent the scores of graceful condolence cards with compassionate notes, and the dozens of floral bouquets she has received with lovely notes of sympathy for Mrs. Whitney,'s death, as well as those who have already sent contributions to the M. C. Whitney Memorial Fund. Eventually Jane will find the stamina to return the dozens of cell phone calls, no doubt offering condolences as well. Mrs. Whitney was so modest, she would have been overwhelmed to find that so many thought so highly of her and placed such value on their acquaintance and/or friendship with her. Jane and her mother were mutual best friends, a fact obvious to everyone, and c
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