Anne's Final Words

While not in her customary blogging style that we all love, Anne’s family and friends will close her blog by sharing Anne’s own words.  She took the initiative to write her own obituary below.  We also pulled from her last full blog post her wishes for us as we continue on in life. She helped decide where donations in her memory could be made.

Anne was a remarkable family member, friend, and colleague.  Her impact is long lasting and she will live on in our hearts. 

Obituary:

On February 26, 2023, the limits of current medical treatments were reached and Anne R Crecelius died peacefully from metastatic breast cancer in hospice care at home surrounded by her loving family.  She is survived by mother Barbara, sisters Karyn (Adam) and Sarah (James) and brother Marc (Marisa).  She loved her nieces (Carmen, Annabelle, Alice and Violet) and nephews (Colin and Myles) and dearly missed her departed father Lee.

Anne was a Professor at the University of Dayton, having achieved this final academic promotion in the year of her passing.  While she did not have children of her own, her students became like her kids and are a part of her living legacy.  She mentored students in her research lab, taught with energy and passion in her classes, and connected with students through advising.  The University of Dayton community, which she first entered as an undergraduate in 2003 and returned as a faculty member in 2013 after obtaining graduate degrees at Colorado State University, was her local family.  Colleagues across the institution became friends, and Anne’s influence was far ranging through countless committees and service obligations.  Her influence was not limited to her local institution as she was also active in nationwide efforts towards advancing physiology education.

Particularly after her initial diagnosis of Stage IV breast cancer in 2014, but even before, Anne took a ‘say yes’ mentality toward life.  She loved to travel, enjoy the outdoors, try new things, push herself physically and mentally, and was a tremendous friend.  In her last years, she continued to explore and spend time with those important to her, all while maintaining a productive work life and receiving treatments.  She chronicalled her story on her blog that was read by hundreds.   She wrote professionally about how she incorporated her diagnosis into her teaching and received several accounts of inspiration from near and far.

An initial prayer service will be hosted immediately today February 27th, 2023 at 2:30pm ET on the University of Dayton campus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jXiP3aQ29I

Details on further memorial celebrations are to come.  

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to: 

American Physiological Society www.physiology.org/donate (Select “Anne Crecelius Memorial Fund”)

University of Dayton https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/26067/donations/new (The Professor Anne R Crecelius Fund for Innovation in Learning and Teaching)

Metavivor https://www.metavivor.org/take-action/donate/

Other wishes from Anne in her last post:

“Talk about death with someone you care about. Yours, mine, theirs, an aging parent's.  You think I might be joking, but I'm not. The conversations I'm having, the decisions I'm making are not easy.  But, it's something I've been thinking about for awhile, talking about with my family and it makes it far easier.  What are your priorities and wishes?  What is in order vs not? Please, have a hard conversation.

Add a note to the public kudoboard my dear friend set up https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/ByEKeBxB

Support each other.  Really...I know that this is hard for others too, so please, take care of each other while I focus on taking care of myself.”

We will miss you dearly, Anne, and carry you with us always.