Louise Sheldon Wiegenstien, MD
January 30, 1917 - October 23, 2005
Obituary
Dr. Louise S. Wiegenstein
Born January 30, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York; died October 23, 2005 in Seattle, Washington.
Louise was born to Reginald and Lumina Sheldon in Brooklyn, NY. Shortly thereafter her family moved to Brockton, Massachusetts, where Louise attended Brockton High School. She went on to Simmons College in Boston, receiving her B.S. in 1938. Encouraged by a professor who saw her capabilities, Louise entered medical school and obtained her M.D. from Tufts University. It was during her medical studies in wartime Boston that she met her husband-to-be, John T. Wiegenstein, who had come from Montana to study medicine at Harvard University.
John and Louise were married on October 7, 1945. In 1947, they moved to Seattle, where Louise finished at the University of Washington Hospital. Soon after, her first child Mary was born, to be followed by Jane, Ann, Margaret and John. While raising her family, Louise practiced pathology and taught in the University of Washington Medical School, starting out as an instructor and retiring as associate professor in 1979. After retirement, she went back to school and earned a B.A. in Russian Language & Literature at the University of Washington. Between family, career and all her other pursuits, Louise somehow also found time to look after a series of well-loved Dalmation and Great Dane family dogs.
Louise was a pathbreaker when relatively few women practiced medicine. She was accomplished in many ways beyond her profession: a musician piano, bass, voice; a linguist French, German, Russian; an avid tennis player, skier and sailor. Louise loved to travel and visited Europe and the British Isles on many occasions, and also Russia and China. She was a devout Catholic, active in Catholic Childhood and a member of Sacred Heart choir for many years. But most of all Louise was a devoted daughter, sister, wife and mother and a stimulating, generous friend to many.
During the last few years Louise suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Through that time, her husband John was a loving and devoted caregiver. Over the last months Louise also received compassionate care from the staffs at The Springs at Pacific Regent, Sunrise Assisted Living of Bellevue, and Ida Culver House Broadview, for which her family expresses thanks and appreciation.
For Louise now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, and flowers have appeared in the land. Her long and rich life is celebrated by: her husband, John now living in Seattle; her children Mary, Jane, Ann Scott, Margaret, and John Laurie; her grandchildren Andrew Fleischman Bobbi Jo, Laura Soden Steve, and Grace and Emma Wiegenstein; her great-grandchild Addison Fleischman; her sisters-in-law Jean Wiegenstein and Lois Sheldon; her cousin Jane Rogers; her nieces and nephews John, Mark, Greg, Tony and Phil L’Esperance, Jean Rose, Rob Sheldon, and Susan Allender; and many dear friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, October 29, at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue. Recitation of the rosary will be at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, Friday, October 28, at Bonney-Watson on Capitol Hill. Friends and family are invited to share memories and sign the online guestbook at http://www.bonneywatson.com. Remembrances may be made to the American Heart Association, the Alzheimer’s Association, Catholic Childhood, or to a charity of your choice.
My parents were part of Louise’s medical and church community. I remember being so impressed that a woman of her generation “had it all”, a demanding profession and an active family life. She was vivacious, intellectual and artistic, and she passed all those qualities on to her children. My sincere condolences to the family.
Dear Jack and Family. I’m sorry I can’t be with you Saturday; I’ll be in Moses Lake conducting a Women’s Cursillo Weekend. Be assured I will offer the Mass that day for Louise. The 29th is also Mom’s birthday 99. So both will be together in my prayers.
Love to all.
Tom
sosorry for your loss. wish we had kept in touch.
To: Dr John Weigenstein,
Our prayers & memories go out to you and your family in the loss of your wife & mother.
We have happy memories of you as our dear Dr.
Wayne & Priscilla Gray & Family
My sincere sympathy to the family on the loss of your loved one – a remarkable woman.
My deepest sympathy goes out to you, Dr. Wigenstein, and your family on the death of your dear wife and mother. I have fond memories of wonderful parties at your home full of laughter and good conversation, and of the times I participated in musical events where Louise either sang in a choir or played the cello in a concert where I was a soprano soloist. Special sympathy to Margaret who was my voice student at Holy Names Academy. Thank you all for your contributions to our community and society.
Much love,
Karen Kasper
My thoughts and prayers go out to Louise and all the family. I will always have good memories of Louise and all the Wiegensteins from the time I first met the family at St. Therese Parish.
It’s only by happenstance that I’m here on this page, but I was friends with her daughter, Ann, thorough high school and I remember her great kindness in including me in an outing to an English language version of Barber of Seville; live performances being a rare treat for me and so thoughtful of her. It still lives in my memory.