Memorial
San Luis Obispo, CA
March 19, 2022
After too long a hiatus it’s time to get back to work on this blog. Saturday, March 19, was the day of the memorial. This was the location of the memorial.
This was a dairy or a milk processing facility years ago. The memorial wasn’t in here it was in what looked to me to be a milking barn or the processing facility. This is the interior of the octagonal barn. No idea why it was built in that shape or what its purpose was.
More interior of the octagonal barn.
More interior.
Some history. I wish it were more readable. The memorial was in the rectangular building to the left.
Cal Poly, a cow in spandex and a bike helmet. Of course.
The rectangular barn and some other outbuildings on the left. Restrooms and offices in there.
This is Virginia, we will miss her terribly.
This is from the Okawville Times in Okawville, Illinois.
Virginia Lea Shubert
Virginia Lea Shubert passed away one day before her 75th birthday, on December 21st, 2021 in San Luis Obispo, California. Born December 22nd, 1946, the daughter of Roy (Buster) Shubert and Beatrice (Betty) Shubert, nee Palek. She grew up on a dairy farm near Addieville with her three younger brothers.
She graduated from Okawville Community High School in 1964. She then went on to become a nurse for the next 50 years, graduating from Barnes Hospital School of Nursing in 1967, the University of California, San Francisco school of nursing (Bachelor’s degree in 1976) and the University of Washington (Master’s degree in hospice care) in 1981.
She spent the last 40 years of her career in hospice care, receiving local, state and national awards for her work in this developing field. She was a founding member and past president of the National Hospice Nurses Association and the National Board of Certification of Hospice Nurses, serving on both governing boards for many years.
She married Thomas Edward Farris on January 6th, 1978 and they were extremely happy together until his death of a neurological disease on Christmas Day 2014.
Her own health was severely impacted by multiple progressive autoimmune diseases from about the same time forward. Friends and family cared for her in her own home until her passing….and she is forever grateful. She had to give up her beloved fishing due to poor health, but despite poor vision, was able to continue lifelong joys of reading, word games and pinochle. In her later years she became skilled in embroidering vintage linen and cotton fabrics.
She is survived by brothers Dwight (Mary), Russell (Kathy) and Scott (Nancy) Shubert and Will and Mike Farris, and by beloved nieces, nephews and friends. She is also survived by three “adopted” sisters. Her best friend since age seventeen and sister of her heart, Dianne Williams of Chicago, Illinois, Sharon Valk of Fresno, California and Sue Citkowski of San Luis Obispo, California.
Per her wishes, she was cremated and a memorial service will be held in Illinois “in the spring when good fishing weather is here”.
If you read between the lines you will notice that she was one of pioneers of hospice care in the United States. With a handful of others she also wrote the textbook on Hospice and Palliative Care and with that group wrote the exam to receive accreditation as a Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse
I know she would not want anyone to be sad so I will say it was a great day for a great lady.
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