Myrtle Aydelotte Obituary

Aydelotte, Myrtle Kitchell ("Kitch")
Rochester: Peacefully at home, on January 7, at age 92. Predeceased by her husband, William. Survived by loving daughters, Marie Aydelotte Turner (Jonathan) and Jeannette Aydelotte Burr (Chris) and four grandchildren, Alex and Victoria Turner, Michael and Brian Burr.
Kitch was born in rural Iowa and moved with her family to northern Minnesota during the Great Depression. She was the second youngest of nine, and the first to attend college. She was a 1939 graduate of the University of Minnesota, who later received her PhD there in 1955. She served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II, in the northern African and Italian campaigns.
Kitch had a long and distinguished professional career, including positions as Founding Dean and Professor at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, Director of Nursing at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and as Executive Director of the American Nurses' Association in Kansas City. She received multiple awards and authored many publications. She was a member of many professional nursing organizations, as well as of the Institute of Medicine.
After her retirement, Kitch moved to Rochester to be near family. She continued to be active as a community volunteer at St. John's Meadows, where she made her home. She received the St. John's Communities Leadership Award in 2008.
The family gives sincere thanks to caregivers Liz, Casey and Anette, and to Jeanne King, RN from Lifetime Care Hospice.
Friends may call Tuesday, January 12th from 4-7 p.m. at the Anthony Funeral Chapel, 2305 Monroe Avenue. A Memorial Service to celebrate Kitch's life is planned for Saturday, February 6th at 1 p.m. at St. John's Meadows Briarwood. For those wishing, donations in Kitch's memory may be made to the University of Iowa School of Nursing (University of Iowa Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244), the University of Rochester School of Nursing (Office of Development, 300 E. River Rd., Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627), or the St. John's Home Foundation (150 Highland Ave., Rochester, NY 14620).
Anthony Funeral & Cremation Chapels
2305 Monroe Ave., 244-0770

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Rochester Democrat And Chronicle from Jan. 8 to Jan. 10, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Myrtle Aydelotte

7 Entries

Tommy Henderson

February 7, 2010

I'm just anmother of the multitude Kitch helped along the road of life. Without her, I truly believe I would have remained a drunk and certainly never an Rn with clinics in Haiti and an adopted son about to graduate from Iowa State.

Rory Childers

February 4, 2010

The Childers Family: Rory, Michele, Peter & Rani, and Daniel --join Marie and Jon, Nettie (Jeanette) and Chris and the lovely children Alex and Victoria, Brian and Michael, in mourning that wonderful woman Kitch. We remember twice yearly visits to you-all starting in 1963 both at Iowa City and Waterford. Kitch's marvellous sense of humor, her inestimable care for Bill (without which he would never have attained the honors bestowed upon him). Not to forget: both of them reached the absolute pinnacle of National Achievement: Bill being elected to the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Kitch being elected to the Institute of Medicine (I believe: the first nurse to be so honored). We just remember wonderful hours of wit and laughter: Kitch always seemingly soft, while actually being the titanium backbone of this wonderful family. Unless we asked, she never spoke of her service to this nation in WWII, near the Front Line, or to the nursing profession which she always held in the highest esteem: always an inspiration to those RN's aspiring for the Ph.D. We will always remember her and miss her.

Roma Lee Taunton

January 21, 2010

Kitch was a blessing in my life for over 30 years, and my husband's favorite person. Although she was a valued mentor and professional colleague, my best memories are more personal. Visiting with them in Iowa City, I loved to sit with Kitch and Bill after breakfast for the reading aloud of the newspapers. Somehow they turned the opinion pages and letters to the editor into a comedy routine.
Kitch enjoyed the expansion of her family and the growth and change among her "young people"--Marie and Jon, Jeanette and Chris, and then Alex, Victoria, Michael, and Brian. Thanks to all of you for taking good care of her.

January 12, 2010

I am a Registered Nurse, who with thousands of us across the US and the world mourn the loss of "Kitch". All of us were better for the many contributions she made to our profession, for her "can do" spirit, her capacity for risk taking, and her sense of humor. She will be missed. To her family: thank you for sharing her with all of us. Phyllis Kritek, Half Moon Bay, CA

Michael Kitchell

January 10, 2010

Aunt Myrtle was a big part of my life growing up in Minnesota and then later with Uncle Bill in Iowa City when I was in medical school and residency there. She and I shared a nickname (Kitch) and red hair that enabled many people to see our connection. She will be remembered by many as a brilliant and caring leader (Ph.D., Dean of the College of Nursing, Director of Nursing at the Univ. of Iowa, Executive Director of the ANA, and member of the Institute of Medicine). But, just as my father Ralph (her younger brother), I will remember her for her love and encouragement, and how she and Bill made everyone around them feel loved. Luckily she married late in life and leaves an even greater legacy of her family. My sympathy goes out to all who loved her.

January 9, 2010

I had the privilege of working out with Kitch at Ellen Pfeiffer's Studio a few years back. She was the most fascinating and interesting person to talk with! The stories she could tell!
She will be greatly missed as she is the end of an era!
My deepest sympathy to her family!

Linda Wilmier

Margaret Kitchell

January 8, 2010

We are so sorry to hear that Myrtle is gone. I believe she is the last of John Kitchell's many children. Our Dad Ralph was the baby, but she has lived longer. I will remember fondly dinners at her home, where salad surprisingly came after the main course. And bedtimes where the heat was turned down so much we saw our breath in the morning. (At least I think I remember that.) She was always so happy to hear of family news. She had a hearty laugh that I can still hear in my memory. I have often used her example for young women worried they might marry too late to have children. It was so good that she was near her daughters as she became older.
My Mom Mary Clare wants to say that she is sorry about her passing also.

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