Celebrating a life worth celebration

[SueM in MN]

As I was looking at the paper today, one obituary stood out.
Partly because it was a long one.
Partly because of the look of joy in the photo.
I decided to post it here because this was a woman who truely took a life with disability and lived it to the fullest.
(the image may disappear after a few days)

JUDITH WHIPPLE OEHLER
Age 61, of St. Paul, died peacefully on January 16th.
A nurse, educator, author and advocate for the disabled, Judy was a graduate of the Summit School, Skidmore College and Boston University, where she earned her doctorate in psychiatric nursing.
Judy was a childhood diabetic who lost her sight when she was 23. She devoted her career to inspiring individuals with disabilities and challenging communities to treat people with disabilities with greater respect and equal rights.
For example, she was the first blind person to complete the challenging sailing program at the Hurricane Island Outward School in Rockland, ME. In 1981, people throughout the world were amazed and inspired to learn that a group of eleven disabled climbers had climbed Mount Rainier in a demonstration project they called "Pelion" – organized by Judy and her colleague, Phil Bartow, with the leadership of mountain climbing legend Jim Whitaker. That stunning achievement was a significant, dramatic and public testimony to the courage, stamina and abilities of the disabled.
Project Pelion received international attention, earned commendations from the US Congress, President Reagan, Boston University and many others. The HBO sponsored movie, "To Climb a Mountain," documented their achievement.
Judy's 1980 doctoral dissertation was the first study of the psycho-social reaction to blindness caused by diabetes. This was the basis of her life long work - helping individuals and communities to better cope with disabilities. One example of her published work was "Group Therapy With Blind Diabetics" published in 1980 in Archives of General Psychiatry, which was co-authored by Judy and her long-time colleague and friend Roy Fitzgerald, MD, who also was an organizer of Project Pelion.
She was a member or director of numerous professional organizations in her field. Throughout the country, Judy was sought after as a researcher, teacher and counselor on the subject of coping with loss and adapting positively to a disability.
Judy's work led her to meetings with the famous (such as President Reagan and the Sheikh of Qatar) as well as the simple (school children enthralled by learning how she walked with a Seeing Eye Dog).
Her employment included Psychiatric Nurse – and later, Instructor - Staff Education, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Director of Counseling Services, Retina Associates, Boston; and Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. She also worked as a consultant for the American Diabetes Association, Joslin Diabetes Center and Boehringer-Mannheim.
She is survived by her brother Cole Oehler, Jr. and his wife Judy of Chicago, IL; her brother Benjamin Oehler and his wife Lynn of Wayzata; her sister Susan Oehler Seltzer and her husband Jonathan of Edina; her brother Peter Oehler and his wife Jackie of Onalaska, WI; and her loyal Seeing Eye dog, Carl.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty and Cole Oehler; her sister, Deborah Oehler Lynden; her nephew, Samuel Oehler; and six Seeing Eye Dogs: Amy, Dusty, Katie, Frosty, Venice and Amber. She is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews: Madeleine Lynden Peron and her husband Andy; William Oehler and his wife Katy; Nicole Oehler Macchia and her husband Chris; Sara Oehler; Cory Oehler; Susan Oehler; Jonathan Seltzer; Charles Seltzer; Alicia Oehler Porath and her husband Nate; Kaleigh Jones; Megan Jones; one great niece, Elizabeth Peron and two great nephews, Benjamin Peron and Jack Oehler. A memorial service for Judy will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, February 9th, at ST JOHN the EVANGELIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 60 Kent St., St. Paul. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior, Faribault, MN; The Seeing Eye, Inc. Morristown, NJ; or Minnesota Medical Foundation (Diabetes Institute), Minneapolis, MN. Bradshaw 678 Snelling Ave. S, St. Paul 651-698-3878
Published in the Star Tribune from 2/2/2008 - 2/3/2008.

Her life fits well with the new saying I added (from Mr. Spock, of Star Trek).
This is one woman who was definately NOT of no consequence.

 

[dclfun]

Sue- thanks for posting this. I think we get caught up so much in just trying to struggle through our daily lives that it's good to take a moment to figure out what we've done to make an impact on this earth and on our fellow human beings and creatures of the earth. If we can do one thing to "make a difference" then our struggles and lives have not been in vain. Every one, regardless of ability or disability or level of function is here for a reason and has worth. Sometimes it's a challenge to see through fogs of despair during tough times but everyone has their inner rainbow even if you don't always see it. This woman was a true hero and champion...wow! It's very inspiring to read about her accomplishments and a life well-lived.---Kathy

 

[ireland_nicole]

Sue;
Thanks; I'm going to need to keep a box of kleenex by the computer, though. It's wonderful to see someone who does the extraordinary. It reminds me that despite what Drs predict and I fear, my children can do and be so much more. I really needed that hope today, you don't know how much this helped.
Nicole (sending a big hug)

 

[DisneyWheeler]

There was a woman that I knew from a writing class long ago, that I took. Her name was Sharon Price, and she had cerebral palsy. Despite her disabilities, she lived life to the fullest. Her book that she wrote, with an introduction from one of the state's former senators, is really good and funny. She even autographed it for me, and it makes me get happy tears in my eyes whenever I read it. She died this year, and I'll truly miss her. She was so fun to talk to. I have a best friend named Lorrie with the same condition, and we have so much fun together. Her mom is Dan's and my community inclusion person. Often times, she takes Lorrie, her husband Justin (who has almost the same disabilities as Dan), Dan and me on fun outings or weekend trips. The four of us have a lot of fun together, and love to constantly tease each other. Of course, I'm the one that starts it (the teasing), according to Lorrie and Justin.

In fact, Dan has a doctor appointment at OHSU in Portland, so he, Bonnie, and I are going to spend the day in Portland today. We found out that Dan's favorite restaurant that we ate at on our honeymoon in Hawaii, is in Portland. So, we're going to go eat dinner there tonight before heading home.

Samantha