Obituary

OTTUMWA - Carol Irene, 64, died at 1:03 a.m. Feb. 4, 2005, at Hospice House.

She was a graduate of Ottumwa High School in 1958 and St. Joseph's School of Nursing in 1961. Carol spent her life in service to others. She shared her gifts as a mother, wife, nurse, friend, sister and daughter. She started her nursing career at Davis County Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital. She later worked as a registered nurse at hospitals in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. In 1975 she joined the Lisbon-Mt. Vernon Ambulance Service in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. She also worked as a paramedic training coordinator at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, and participated on an Advisory Committee to the governor about emergency medical services in rural Iowa communities. This work was instrumental in creating standards for training emergency medical professionals in the state of Iowa. She later received numerous awards for her work at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria and the Department of the Army in Virginia.
She was a member of St. Mary of the Visitation.
She was preceded in death by her fatherand brother.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary of the Visitation with Father Bernie Weir officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Visitation will begin after 10 a.m. Sunday at Reece Funeral Home with the family present from 2-4 p.m. followed by a Christian Wake service at 4 p.m.
A memorial has been established to Hospice.

services

My mom's obituary was in the Ottumwa Courier today, but it is not online yet. Sunday after 10:00 a.m. is visitation at Reese Funeral Home, and a Christian Wake will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a eulogy done by mom's friend Charles Halsey. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at St. Mary's of the Visitation in Ottumwa.

released

My mom, Carol Irene Wagner (Canny) died at Hospice House at 1:00 a.m. this morning. My brother Mike, his wife Laura and mom's good friend John and I were all there with her when she passed on. She went peacefully, and now she is free.

today

I just got a call from the SW at the hospice. She says that that my mom's condition is changing and that it looks like she will die today. I am leaving ASAP.

the same

I checked in with the hospice staff again tonight. My mom remains comatose and doesn't seem to be physically uncomfortable. My prayer has been that this disease be gentle with her at the end. That seems to be happening.

I'm still planning to drive down tomorrow evening and pick my brother and sister-in law up at the Des Moines airport before heading to Ottumwa.

still no change

Talked to Freda last night after she returned from Ottuwma, and to a nurse hospice. Still no change with my mom. Mike and Laura are flying to Des Moines tomorrow evening, and I plan to pick them up and we will all go to Ottuwma tomorrow night.

Our friend Babs was on her way home to KY after spending time in MN with her parents, and she has offered to stay here and help with kids while I am gone. Perfect timing.

no change

I called the hospice this morning, and they say that there is no change.

I will assess every day whether it seems like I should go back or not. It is a really hard decision and I'm not sure what to do. I think it will be okay if I am not there when she dies.

I left for Iowa Friday afternoon. I decided to bring the baby because my mom loves her so much and I wanted her to see Maureen again. My dad went with me and helped with childcare at my Grandma Wagner's place, so that I could focus on other things. My mom was most expressive when I put the baby on the bed with her after I arrived Friday evening. She laughed a little, and tried to smile and say "baby, baby, baby". Baby Maureen was so glad to see Grandma, she tried to climb up to her face and pulled on grandma's nightgown. They were a sweet sight together. It was a lot of work to bring baby, but I'm so glad that I did it.

Friday night was the last meal my mom ate. Saturday morning she tried a little pudding, but her swallowing ability was diminished. This is expected with brain cancer. She has not had food or drink since Saturday a.m. She is sleeping all of the time, and was not able to swallow applesauce with meds in it this morning.

I'm planning to go back either tomorrow afternoon or Tuesday a.m.