In Memory of Classmate ANITA CULVER (HAGER)
Anita Culver Hager passed away January 2, 2019, after a long battle with alsheimer's. Anita desire was for no obituary or special services which has been honored by her family. The class webmaster has spoken with her husband on several occasions and has tabulated the following for classmates' memory.
Anita’s preference was for no obituary. Her husband, Bob Hager and her son sent the following:
From Bob Hager, her husband: My son’s post on face book is included below. You may use some for year book especially comments on nursing. She was able to attended Duke's school of Nursing by her high-grade average in High School.
From Robert Brooks Hager, her son. First, I'm sorry I have not posted in a while. It has been a tough 2018 with my Mom who had been doing okay with her Alzheimer’s till she fell in October and had been in decline and not eating much. Still one has to count God's blessings and the fact she managed to see Christmas and New Year before dying on the 2nd was a big one. She was 82 and wanted no viewing or obituary. Cremation with ashes spread on a special childhood memory spot.
I feel a need to say something to my friends about her, which is not an obituary in the stricter sense so I am not betraying her wishes. She was a nurse, spending a chunk of her days at Johns Hopkins in the preemie baby care area which was a pioneer field on saving premature babies when survival rates were very low. She worked on the same floor as Apgar who came up with 1-10 scale on babies after birth (who was also on the 20 cent stamp). She worked other hospitals in Baltimore as well (nurses did not get benefits back then).
She met my dad while he was in the navy in Bermuda and for their 25th anniversary they went back to visit. She was not for fancy jewelry or clothes and made a great pineapple casserole and /or cranberry salad for the holidays. She loved key lime pie, coconut cake and baby back ribs.
M two best friends had each lost a son not too long ago and I figure many of my friends and relatives are going through emotional changes as we all keep strolling through life. Thanks for reading.