Josefa Whitman (Whitman) Myer

July 17, 1923 ~ January 28, 2020 (age 96)

Obituary

Madison - Maria Josefa Claire “Fefa” Whitman Myer, a peaceful end to a life of perseverance – our beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, January 28 at the age of 96.  Fefa was born in her great aunt’s apartment in New York City on July 17, 1923.  Raised in Bedford, New York, she was the daughter of Harold and Georgia Whitman, and the youngest, by nine years, of a family of six children.  Always a creative and restless soul, she chose alternative paths to conventional ones - not finishing high school – one of her great regrets, at least of her younger years, and exploring many creative fields – classical pianist, actress (one year at the New York School of Dramatics), dance instructor, linguist (fluent in two languages and conversational in another) and finally a stint during WW II in the Marines.  Little did she know that she had met her touchstone, Sam Myer, on a swing in Maine when she was 11, the son of a family friend. They married on March 18,1946 at her family’s home in Bedford – truly a marriage of opposites that lasted for 67 years until our father’s death in 2013.  They created homes for their family in Princeton NJ, San Francisco, CA, Flatts, Bermuda, Ventura, CA and finally Madison WI in 2004.  Their love of travel took them across the country, many times camping their way across with their three girls, as well as trips to South America and around the world.  However our mother’s story would not be complete without fulfilling her one wish – to help other alcoholics.  My mother celebrated her 40th year of sobriety – it was hard fought in her earlier years but won by love and courage in the latter half of her life.  She would want anyone suffering from this addiction to know that there is a tomorrow.  As her children, we learned that a mother’s love conquers all, and we are so grateful for the unconditional love she gave us.  She led a remarkable second act – at 62 she received her GED and attended college into her 70’s.  In her 90’s, she became a published author, a VERY competitive Solitaire player, a traveler to Hawaii, and an accomplished coloring artist.  Her life was indeed one of perseverance.

Her legacy to her extended family and friends is one of intelligence, strength, compassion, and above all, love. She will be dearly missed by her daughters, Georgia Myer (Patrick Farmer, deceased), Ginny (Greg) Kester, and Jody (Tom) Myer-Lynch; her grandchildren, John (Nicole) Kester, Lane Kester (Bill) Rehmke, Sam Lynch, and Lydia Lynch; and her great granddaughter, Virginia Jonete Rehmke. She will also be missed by her beloved nieces and nephews who helped to cement her sense of family. She joins in death, her beloved husband Sam, her family and siblings, and several cherished nieces and nephews.

In addition, her last years would not have been complete without the love and support of two special people – Cherie Kovnesky and Connie Caucutt; we are so grateful to them. We also would like to give many thanks to the compassionate care of the staff at Attic Angels – Janine, Mary, Jane, Veronica, Carmen, and David. Thanks too to the expert Hospice care by Mary and Susi.

There will be a celebration of Fefa’s life in the Garden Room at ATTIC ANGELS, 8301 Old Sauk Road, Middleton, on Saturday, February 1st from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Agrace Hospice, Tellurian, or Second Harvest Food Bank. Please share memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434