[MR] A Terrible Loss to the Shore

[Jacqueline Lee]

It is 1:58pm, October 28, 2009,  I have just been informed of the death of Virginia Grabenbauer, wife of Thomas Grabenbauer, known in the Society as Brigit Carruthers, a friend of many years.  Those of you who saw Brigit at events probably saw her in a wheelchair, she hated that.  Over a long, terrible year ago she determined to fight her way out of that chair, she wanted nothing more than to dance with her husband or to walk proudly by his side.  In May of 2008 she had knee replacement surgery, it failed.  The surgery to correct that ended with an infection which nearly took her life.  It would take too long to go into all that followed but she had the fifth surgery on the leg only a couple of weeks ago.  as she was going through this, in constant pain, she still managed to serve as herald for the Canton of Tear-Sea's Shore and as Web Minister for both the Canton and the Barony.  Only recently did she finally acknowledge that she was too ill to
 continue and gave up her offices.  One of the great joys of her life during this time was the news that she had been given an award of arms, she was to have received it at Feast of St. Andrews.
 
I visited her last night.  She seemed to be doing better, a little fuzzy from the pain meds but glad to be home and hopeful that things were finally going to be over.  She had just been shopping.  She was looking forward to getting her life back together and getting back to the SCA.  She died in her sleep sometime in the morning.  As of this time no plans have been made.  Please contact me or Beromace Carruthers for any further information.
 
Megara di Alessandra