Re: Rita Gormley

[Jeanne Plank <plankmail@aol.com>]

To All:
		Rita Gormley has been an untiring worker and an important, strong  
voice in multiple levels of the American Iris Society 's various  
functions for many years.  The loss of her guidance, advice and  
tireless energy will leave a very large void in the working  
organization of the AIS.
	Our condolences to  Tom and the family/
		Sadly,
			Jeanne and Bob Plank
On Nov 16, 2010, at 3:35 PM, Judy Keisling wrote:

> This is a very difficult message for me to write.
>
> Many of you are aware that
> Rita Gormley had a massive stroke early Saturday
> morning. Tom was not ready
> to have something posted until he knew for sure the
> extent of the damage and
> prognosis.
>
> However, because so many have been asking about her and wondering
> what was going
> on, I just talked with Tom and he has asked me to share this
> information with
> all of you.
>
> For those of you who were at the Fall Board
> meeting in Portland, you know that
> Rita was there and feeling just fine.  At
> the meeting she was awarded the
> Distinguished Service Medal (appropriately
> so) and was most appreciative of
> receiving this honor.  Tom said she was fine
> when she got home and throughout
> last Friday night; there was no signs of a
> problem prior to the stroke; it just
> happened without warning about 1 am on
> Saturday morning.
>
> The MRI done Sunday showed irreversible damage to Rita's
> right brain with no
> hope of recovery.  Up until yesterday she was in ICU  on
> a ventilator and being
> tube fed.
>
>
> Last night she was moved to the Hospice
> wing of the hospital; the feeding tube
> has been removed as has the
> ventilator.  She is breathing on her own, but has
> not, and is not likely, to
> regain consciousness.
>
>
> Tom said that she is comfortable and being very well
> cared for.  They put a gown
> on her that has tiny siamese kittens on it
> (wouldn't that have made her smile!)
> At this point, it is a just a matter of
> time until the end.
>
> Their 3 children are with Tom and he said that they are
> all holding up as well
> as could be expected under the circumstances.
>
> Please
> keep Rita and the Gormley family in your thoughts and prayers as  
> they go
> through this difficult and heartbreaking time.
>
> Judy Keisling
>
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