Louise Hightower

Sad News

I am very sad to say that Louise passed away on December 13, 2005 at Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, Arizona. She was 85 years old. She had been ill for a few months. A small service for family and close friends was held December 21, 2005 in Phoenix. She had so many friends in so many places who loved her and will miss her.

Her favorite places were Starbucks and Borders. She was still an avid reader almost to the end. She had a hard time keeping up her stock in books--she read them faster than she could buy them. She also loved crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles--usually 1,000 pieces or more. And, of course, she still loved music, especially jazz and easy listening.

In recent years she had the opportunity to travel many, many times to California to visit with me and my family. She came almost every Memorial Day (for the Jazz Jubilee), Labor Day (for the Greek Food Festival), and Christmas, and she usually stayed for several weeks at a time. She was with us right after Madeleine was born and Madeleine got to know her Grandma Weeze very well. Louise was here for Madeleine's baptism and first communion. She was here so often that she had made many friends here and had been planning to relocate. She was so well loved here that a special Mass was said in her memory at St. Ignatius Church.

She had hoped to return to St. Joseph to see the place where she spent so many wonderful years and where she raised her family. She regretted that she was not able to visit before she became ill.

Louise spent her final days at Hospice of the Valley, a lovely place in Phoenix with the most loving, caring staff one could ever hope to have. The staff there made her final days as comfortable as they could, and the family will be forever indebted to those fine, dedicated people for making her last days as pleasant as they could.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85014-5656. You can also donate in her memory on their website at Hospice of the Valley.

May 25, 2001