Eulogy from Dad

My Dad wanted me to post this, along with a photo of our flag at half staff in her honor.

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Our beloved Joyce Schroeder Birkeland passed away quietly at the family home in Kirkland July 25, 2009. She died of complications from a return of breast cancer. She was 64 years old.

Joyce was the eldest child of the late Leonard Schroeder and Opal Schroeder and was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended schools there, and after being graduated from high school, met and married Frederick Peter Kalb. Peter and Joyce moved several times around the country, following his educational and vocational requirements, eventually settling in Seattle. They had two wonderful daughters, Gretchen Margaret Kalb and Heather Marie Kalb. Twelve years into their marriage their life paths parted and they divorced.

In 1978 Joyce married Paul Berton Birkeland and moved with him to Kirkland, where they added two more wonderful children - daughter Steffenie Elizabeth Birkeland and son Paul Leonard Birkeland. They raised their family there, and in addition Joyce was an active partner in the family real estate development and management business, Birkeland and Associates. She also established Birkeland Design, which was an interior design consulting firm, working on real estate rehabilitation projects. In her spare time, she became an accomplished porcelain doll artist and won numerous local and national prizes for her dolls. In addition, she was an extremely accomplished chef, hostess and generous benefactor of numerous charities, and was beloved by all she came into contact with. She enjoyed her family, travel, gourmet dinners at home and at favorite restaurants, great wines and vintners, reading, live theater (32 year attendee at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and was looking forward to a life of retirement with Paul in their new home in Las Vegas.

She leaves behind her husband Paul, children Gretchen Moran and husband Mark of Marble Falls, Texas, daughter Heather Kalb of Seattle, daughter Steffenie Birkeland Evans and husband Fletcher of Seattle, and son Paul (Birk) of Kirkland, as well as sister Gloria Williams and husband Mike of Hayden Lake, Idaho and brother Darryl Schroeder and wife Lori of Houston, as well as a number of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Her Mother, Opal Schroeder of Houston, Texas also survives her. Aunt Jean Banker and husband Dr CA Banker of Chappell Hill, Texas and cousin Star Asimakoupoulos were very close to her . A memorial will be held at St Thomas Episcopal Church, 8398 NE 12th St., Medina, WA at 5 pm, July 29, 2009 followed by a reception at Newcastle Golf Club. Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund (www.komenpugetsound.org), St Thomas Church (www.stthomasmedina.org), Oregon Shakespeare Festival (petert@osfashland.org) or PONCHO (www.poncho.org)

Joyce enriched the lives of all she came into contact with, and left the world a better place. She had a heart of gold, took pains to be there for everyone, and was a warm and loving friend and hostess to many. We honor her memory and are grateful to all who so graciously helped us during her long struggle with breast cancer. In your own way you are carrying on with her mission - God Bless all of you.

Joyce Schroeder Birkeland, 1944-2009

Our dear mother and wife passed away this morning at 4:23am, losing her valiant fight against breast cancer at home, surrounded by her family.

Update

My Mom continues to rest comfortably in her bedroom. She is no longer concious due to the amount of medication we are giving her, but is not in pain, and we are so grateful for that. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Joyce Update July 20, 2009

Joyce returned home this evening after spending 2 1/2 days in the Critical Care Unit at Overlake Hospital. The breast cancer has spread and is causing periodic atrial fibrillation (irregular heart problems) plus there is some possible compression of her wind pipe and esophagus due to the cancer, plus she has a new cancerous breast nodule, plus they are removing 500 cc of fluid from her lung sacks every day, which consists partially of decomposed body tissue, plus she has some blood clot issues. If that isn't enough, she has pneumonia. She is back at home, but very, very ill and basically taking pain medications and not much else at this time. Our Priest Steve Best gave us all the eucharist at the hospital today, and Hospice workers arrive tomorrow morning.

We are grateful for all the medical workers who have worked so hard to bring life back to her, but I fear that is not to be. And to all of you wonderful friends, who have followed her difficult struggle, and who have shared with prayers, cards, letters, e mails, flowers and books - you are the greatest. Stay tuned for a further update in the near future.

Update

My Mom was admitted to the ER last night due to some pulmonary fibrillation (erratic heartbeats, as I understand it) which has happened a few times in the past 6 weeks. While in the hospital today, the doctors have discovered that she has pneumonia. This is obviously not good and will be incredibly difficult for my Mom to fight off.

Please continue to keep my Mom in your prayers.

Joyce Birkeland Update, July 13, 2009

Here is the latest. This picture was taken today, July 13, while Joyce was at Overlake Hospital receiving her weekly dose of chemo, doing labs, and conferencing with her oncologist, and Joyce is doing much better. She is eating more, taking vitamins, in better spirits, talking and laughing, and generally in a good mood. Her pain seems to be pretty well under control, as do her non breast cancer health issues. She is on two chemo drugs which seem to be having a positive impact on the breast cancer too, but weight loss and lung evacuations of liquid remain concerns. Last weekend we went for a drive to visit with a friend and also went out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant, but she overdid it and the spicy food was a bit too much. Coming up we will continue with chemo, daily evacuations of her lungs (that situation also is somewhat improved), some wheelchair trips in the neighborhood, and brief visits at the house with neighbors and friends. Every week she also has the eucharist brought to the house by a friend, which is a highlight of her week. The children have been fantastic and very helpful, and daugther Gretchen visited from Texas and got Joyce all dolled up for the photo which was a special treat for all of us, especially Joyce herself. Thanks again for all your kind thoughts, prayers, cards, letters, calls and visits. You are the greatest.

Update and Visit Scheduling

Sorry for the radio silence on the blog recently. There hasn't been a whole lot of news to share with you all. My Mom is continuing to undergo chemo weekly and fight this cancer. She is having her lungs evacuated daily now, which makes her feel better but also drains her of much of the protein and calories she manages to eat.

She loves visitors, however this too can really exhaust her. It would be really wonderful if anyone planning to visit could give us a call prior to your visit and see if she's up for company. If she is, please try to keep your visits to under 30 minutes. My Mom is a true lady and would never ask anyone to leave, so I hope you will all understand and keep your visits short. That said, please don't shy away from visiting. I know she loves to see her family and friends!

As my husband heads out on a 10-day hiking trip with his family, I am looking forward to some more girl time with my Mom. Hopefully it won't result in another runaway wheelchair!