An overflow crowd celebrated beloved Lynne Russell, on July 14, 2024, at the Wisteria Pavilion in the Arboretum.

Guest after guest shared memories of how Lynne enlivened their spirits.

Sadly, more friends were waiting to add stories when we had to end.  #alzauthors #caregiver

We opened with a blessing by John Donahue: To Bless the Space Between Us.

Absence

May you know that absence is alive with hidden presence

That nothing is ever lost or forgotten. Indeed, Wisteria Pavilion was alive with the hidden presence of Lynne

The Russell family were the honored caregivers at the Help and Hope Dinner benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. We raised a record amount of $533,000. Jim Russell gave the following message.

I do not accept this honor trusting in our own righteousness, rather with the great blessings we have received.  

We were blessed with the Alzheimer’s Association’s counseling, information, and support groups. Erica Farrell guided a pivotal family council allowing Lynne’s boys to say, “Mom, we want you to move into assisted living.”

We were blessed by staff at Aegis living who treated Lynne as a friend and guided her mission to care for older RESIDENTS.

We were blessed with Lynne’s Posse of friends from Microsoft. (Please stand).  For seven years they visited Lynne and me with music, stories, home-cooked meals, exercises, parties, and concerts. They alerted us to unmet needs.

We were blessed with Lynne’s friends on Facebook: — grade-school, high-school, college, Seattle U, co-teachers, and neighbors. They posted story after story on ways Lynne made a difference in their lives.

We were blessed with postings of each other’s successes and failures. We cared for each other. We kept adapting her care.  The Alzheimer’s Association cared for all of us.

I was blessed to be at the heart of love more profound than I ever imagined.

We are humbled to be honored. We hope. We help.

Harriet, Lynne’s neighbor, has a message to share with all of you. Dear Jim, Simon, Henrik and Christoph this letter is to express how much Lynne meant to me and how her friendship enriched me. She has left a lasting legacy on everyone she touched as you should know#alzauthors

Lynne’s leadership was inspiring. Lynne’s superpower essence exuded positivity and strength simultaneously. Even as she was struggling she would flash that smile of hers at staff and fellow residents and then say an encouraging word. They would visibly brighten#Alzheimers

I was in awe. We were all drawn to her as to a warm inviting light. I sincerely believe that she will never leave us — she will be there when you need her. Her fierce love for you will endure.#fatherdaughter

 I am so sorry I will miss the celebration of her life in July. I know her presence will be felt and I would love to share in that among people who cared for Lynne#caregiver

https://e.givesmart.com/events/zr1/ Lynne Russell’s family will be honored as the 2024 ‘family-caregivers’ by Alzheimer’s Association Washington Chapter at its annual gala on June 1. A video will highlight caregiving with Lynne, her sons, & Dad.  Gather friends & join us, please Tags Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

This note is from Victoria Mabus, a friend of Lynne’s. I met Lynne in 2019 when we both took Stephanie Vuolo’s Women’s Strength class.  Although she was already living with dementia, Lynne’s bright outlook was infectious.  I don’t think she ever missed a class — three times a week she was working as hard as any of us and loving the progress she made with deadlifts, shoulder presses and bench presses.   Lynne’s smile was one of the things I’ll always remember about her.  I’ll post a couple of pictures of her from our class.  My heart goes out to everyone who loved Lynne.  She was certainly taken much too young.

Lynne gave us and our community so much her friends have generated 3 opportunities to honor her memory based on causes near and dear to Lynne: Special Education Scholarships, financial aide for special ed, and saving the lives of beloved pets. Here are three ways to honor her:

SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS Seattle University, Special Education Endorsement Scholarship

How to give directly:

– Go to Seattle U. Giving Page

– Under “I want to support” click the down arrow and choose “College of Education Dean’s Fund for Excellence”

– In the “comments” box type “Special Education Endorsement Scholarship”

– In memory box “in memory of” type “Lynne Russell”.

2. FINANCIAL AID Washington State Achievement Council (WSAC), Educator Workforce Program (EWP) provides aid to attract and retain teachers in areas with shortages of for teachers in special ed.

How to give directly:

Send an email to teachers@wsac.wa.gov, letting them know you wish to donate in honor of Lynne Russell to the Educator Workforce Program (EWP). They will respond with directions where to send a check. They are not set up to accept credit cards.

3. SUPPORT FOR A NO-KILL ANIMAL RESCUE– Lynne would be most honored to continue to help save another beloved animal. Below are a couple of organizations saving animals in our area.

Homeward Pet Adoption Center

Seattle Area Feline Rescue

If you have questions, please message me and I will reach out to her friends if I cannot help. Thank you for honoring Lynne’s passions.

The University of Washington’s Willed Body program accepted Lynne’s donation of her body to teach medical students at Harborview Hospital for two years before they return her ashes to our family. They call donors, ‘teachers.’ She’s still teaching. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

The UW Willed Body Program is a whole-body donation program for donors from Washington State. The gift of your body to the UW School of Medicine is an invaluable contribution to the education of future healthcare providers. https://shorturl.at/dyJVZ

We’ve all found Lynne bedbound since her body stopped eating & drinking for 11 days. A friend said, “we’ve had peaceful times with her, gently & solidly as she held each of us.” One hospice aide said, ”She’s the most loved & cared for person ever”

Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter

Samatha/hospice: She reached out to hug me & even gave me a quick smile. Really tired and quiet. She seems peaceful. Seems like the days of energy bursts are over. She let me hold her hand. A beautiful person. Tags: Alzheimer’s Dementia Caregiver Caregiving father-daughter