Obituaries

Margaret Louise Gring Panizza

Photo of Margaret Louise Gring Panizza
Margaret Louise Gring Panizza, born Nov. 9, 1940, in Pittsfield, Mass., to the late John and Helen Gring, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 25, 2013, at the Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Ark., following a rapid decline in health. When Margaret was 5 years old, her family moved to Homewood, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, where Margaret attended school through high school. While working as a nurse's aide during the summers, she discovered her professional passion - nursing. After graduating from Cottey College, a private two-year women's college in Nevada, Mo., she earned her B.S.N. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) at Wesley Memorial School of Nursing in Chicago, an affiliate of Northwestern University. Thus began an exemplary 50-year career as a registered nurse, a career that took her to some of the best hospitals and teaching facilities across the country, in San Francisco, Minneapolis, Grand Forks (N.Dak.), T.C.U. of Fort Worth, and Pittsburgh, Pa. With a special interest in obstetrics, she earned her M.S.N. (Masters of Science in Nursing) in Maternal Child Health at the University of Pittsburgh which enabled her to expand her career to become a faculty member, hospital educator, and administrator. Of special note is her work in clinical nurse management and nursing education at Swickley Valley Hospital (near Pittsburgh), with a focus on child birth enhancement. Her most oft repeated comment was, "Every birth is a miracle." Her entire life, personal and professional, was characterized by caring for and giving to others. From 2001-2004, she became the personal care giver for her parents, then living in Springdale, Ark., an experience which provided yet another phase of nursing for the rest of her working career. As an ardent advocate for patient care, she earned the highest respect and admiration of all her colleagues who had the good fortune of working with her. Following a luncheon provided by Margaret's beloved church, Liberty 86 Church, a memorial service will be held on Monday, July 29, 2013, at Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove, Ark., with her pastor L.V.Vickery and her brother-in-law, the Rev. Fred Whitley, co-officiating. A scholarship fund in Margaret's memory will be established at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Nursing at a future date. Her siblings, brother George Cantrell Gring of Sequim, Wash., and her sister Mary Ellan ("Meg") Gring Whitley of Young Harris, Ga., extend their heartfelt thanks for the innumerable kindnesses and support they have received from Margaret's pastor and church family, Prairie Grove neighbors and acquaintances, former colleagues, friends, and relatives. As all who knew her would acknowledge, she fought the good fight, she finished the race, she kept the faith. Thanks be to God for His faithful servant Margaret.

Published July 28, 2013

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