More than 40 Kentucky nurses who died over the last year were honored at a ceremony held by the Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA).
This annual ceremony, held at KNA’s Annual Business meeting in October, compiled the list of 41 nurses who were residents of Kentucky at the time of their death between October 2022 and October 2023, and who received the Nightingale Tribute. They were honored with a video tribute which included photos of each nurse, accompanied by the reading of the “Nightingale” poem entitled “They Were There”. The poem, written by Duane Jaeger, MSN, RN, is a moving recollection of the extraordinary compassion and dedication it takes to be a nurse.
The KNA nurse volunteer offers the Nightingale Tribute throughout the year to any deceased nurse during any part of their funeral or memorial service. The program is enabled by administrative and financial support from the Kentucky Nurses Foundation (KNF).
To view KNA’s 2022-2023 compilation Nightingale Tribute video, visit Nightingale Tribute - YouTube.
Also see below for a list of the honorees.
“The Nightingale Tribute that is offered throughout the year, and the compilation list of nurses recognized at our annual Business Meeting, are touching tributes to Kentucky nurses’ commitment and expertise. Nurses are the backbone of health care, and it is appropriate that they are supported and honored not only during their career, but also at the end of their life’s journey,” said Delanor Manson, MA, BSN, RN, Chief Executive Officer for the KNA and KNF.
Deb Rayman, MA, BSN, RN, and KNF Board member, and who leads Kentucky’s Nightingale Tribute program, added, “With our deepest gratitude, we honor and remember these Kentucky nurses. Upon the learning of the death of a Kentucky nurse, we encourage family members or funeral homes to contact the KNA/KNF so we may offer this meaningful tribute.”
To honor a nurse in your community in this special way, contact the Kentucky Nurses Association at 502/245-2843 or notify dmanson@kentucky-nurses.org or admin@kentucky-nurses.org. The KNA will make every attempt to find a nurse volunteer or colleague in one of their 11 Chapters across the state to offer the Nightingale Tribute.
Tribute Year 2022-2023 Honorees:
Dr. Linda Ballard 1953-2023
Cordero Battles 1983-2023
Catherine "Cat" Bowling Tomes 1971-2023
Elaine Caldwell 1955-2023
Eleanor "Jane" Curtis 1929-2023
Paula Davis 1953-2023
Patsy Dezarn Wooten 1937-2023
Carol Dickie Williams 1945-2023
Ralph "Jim" Doherty, Jr. 1943-2023
Dorothy Dowe 1931-2023
Elizabeth Ellis 1957-2022
Millicent "Millie" Forrest 1993-2023
Sister Miriam Frenke 1933-2022
Pollyann Harrod Coblin 1949-2023
Jessie Howard 1935-2023
Lynn Hundley 1961-2022
Janice "Jan" Jones Dye 1957-2022
Elaine Kappes May 1960-2023
Margaret Kempf Bode 1927-2022
Martha Krebs Akridge 1933-2023
Carol LaDuke Zuberer 1934-2023
Rhonda Lyvers Thomas 1960-2022
Dr. Gayle Mink 1961-2023
Kimberly Lynn Moorman 1962-2022
Mary Muchemi-Stanton 1977-2022
Sherry Newsome 1957-2023
Jane Paasch 1926-2023
Dr. Evelyn Parrish 1963-2022
Cynthia Preston 1969-2023
Paula Gay Quickert Pilcher 1963-2022
Betty Reams 1937-2023
Anna Jean Rider 1929-2022
Linda Schooler McCarty 1953-2023
Agatha Schwendau 1932-2023
William "Bill" Sherman 1949-2023
Gloria Susan "Sue" Smith 1951-2023
Dr. Katherine Smith Detherage 1939-2023
Margaret Smith Ostwalt 1929-2022
Evvivau "Viv" Stalker 1948-2023
Henrida Twyman Holloway 1931-2023
Elizabeth Winebrenner Clines 1954-2023
About the Nightingale Tribute
The Nightingale Tribute -- sponsored by the Kentucky Nurses Foundation, KNA’s philanthropic division -- is designed to honor deceased nurses. It is presented by a nurse colleague at a memorial gathering and during any part of the funeral or memorial service that is requested by the family.The entire tribute takes only a few minutes and includes a creative reading of the “Nightingale” poem involving a candle and a white rose.
About the Kentucky Nurses Association
Established in 1906, the Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA) is the only full-service professional organization representing the needs of 90,000 nurses in the Commonwealth. In addition to promoting the essential role of nurses in the healthcare the KNA advocates for quality patient care in all settings. From the halls of Frankfort and state agencies to boardrooms, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, the KNA is the voice for the nursing profession throughout the Commonwealth.
