Re: Rita Gormley

[Jody Nolin <jody.nolin@gmail.com>]

Judy,
Thanks for letting us all know.  I know how hard it is to write about
this.  One never knows what to say, really.
Rita is a force of nature.  I've learned so much from her.
This tragedy is yet another reminder to always remember what (and who)
is really important -  and not let the little things get in the way.


On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 7:55 PM, Jeanne Plank <plankmail@aol.com> wrote:
> 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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