Laura Jean Whiting

1952 - 2013

Laura Jean Bassett Toomey Whiting, Age 60
Worcester - October 11, 1952 - July 19, 2013
It is with great sadness that I leave you, on July 19, 2013. Although my cancer is incompatible with life, I am not prepared or ready to go. I have tried to live every moment I have been given on this earth, and so appreciate the "extra moments" I have somehow been given. There is still so much I want to do. I want to grow old with my best friend and husband, Larry, enjoying our time talking, traveling and spending time with our children and grandchildren. I want to be with my family for all of the events in their lives, as well as the challenges. I want to watch my children and grandchildren grow up. I want to attend their functions and be part of their lives. But I am so happy to have lived to help plan my daughter's wedding on July 20, 2013. I am amazed that my desire to participate in this wonderful celebration somehow gave me the strength to do so.
I do not leave this earth peacefully, but reluctantly. I did not battle with cancer, but tried to overcome it with good living, good thoughts, good treatments and a good oncology team. I am grateful for friends and family who have been so supportive and kind. I feel your love and appreciate all that you have done for me.
I grew up in Grafton, MA, the oldest child of Howard and Mary (Fleming) Bassett, both of whom died too young. I attended Grafton Schools and then Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. I was lucky to have chosen nursing as my profession. That choice saved my life when in 1970, my nursing school chest X-ray revealed what was soon diagnosed as Hodgkin's Disease. Because of that early discovery, I was cured of that cancer and was able to work 40 years as an RN, and later earn a BS and an MS at Worcester State College. Being cured of cancer also allowed me my greatest achievement: to have 5 beautiful, wonderful and healthy children. My family is the joy of my life.
While married to Richard M Toomey, we had 3 daughters. Merideth Toomey is now an RN, and with Nicholas Milionis, parents of my 2 grandchildren: Molly Jean Milionis (who loves to sing) and Sidney Iris Milionis (who loves to read and write). They live close by in Worcester. Pamela Toomey Hart married Tim Hart on July 20, 2013. They live in a unique log home in Hubbardston, MA with 3 rescued pit bulls, chickens and plans for a small farm. Pam is currently attending Boston College for her MS in Social Work and working as case manager for her fellow veterans. Joanna Toomey lives in Worcester and is happily utilizing her degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations at the BBB.
In 1994 I married Lawrence R Whiting, MD. We bought a big, old house in the Tatnuck area of Worcester that needed much more than "a little work". We have spent the last 20 years together fixing up that house and raising our two children together with my first three. Elizabeth Whiting is currently studying to become an RN at Worcester State University after spending 2 years at the University of Delaware. Jonathan Whiting graduated from Doherty HS in 2013 and will attend the University of Lowell majoring in Electrical Engineering. He is an accomplished guitarist. Our family also includes our dogs, Dozer and Tiger Lily, full of unconditional love and warmth, and a sweet kitten named Clara.
Larry and I are grateful that we decided to travel with the children while they were young. We have made indelible memories of Nice, Paris, Rome, London, Amsterdam, the Caribbean and many National Parks in the US. We also enjoyed spending time at New Hampshire lakes with family and friends boating, water skiing, hiking, singing and eating around campfires.
I have always felt especially bonded and loving towards my siblings as our mother died when we were young. I wish I had been able to fill the hole left in our lives due to our mother's early death. My youngest brother, John Bassett and his wife Deb live in South Grafton. Howard D Bassett Jr and his wife Theo live in Keene, NH. Their daughter, Megan lives in Hinsdale, NH. My sister Martha Bassett lives in Ware, MA with her friend David Robinson. Cynthia Bassett Maurer and her husband Eric live in Holt, MO with their sons, James and Aaron.
I think of all of Larry's sisters as my true "sisters" more than just sisters-in-law. Carolyn Whiting lives in Reading, MA, Joanne Fortin lives in Westfield, MA and Barbara Whiting Drew and her husband Scott live in Newtown, PA with their children Lauren and Jeffrey. Thank you so much for your acceptance, love and support of me.
I am a 43 year survivor of cancer, not a victim. Despite the fact that I again have cancer, my long survival is miraculous. Cancer certainly challenges a person, their family and their friends, but it also gives us a chance to think about what is important, the way we want to live, and the message we want to give. It allows you to say I love you to a wider circle of friends, and to say I love you more often to family. Many friends and family have gone to great effort to gather to celebrate life with me. I so appreciate your delicious food, flowers, enjoyable get-togethers and your sharing of stories and love. What a gift! You are my gift! My moments of joy. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Thank you for those moments, those gifts. I love you.
I have chosen to donate my body to the University of Massachusetts Medical School in recognition of the importance of studying the human body in the education of medical students with the expectation that they will use what they learn from me to help relieve human suffering.
There will be a Memorial Celebration of Life on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, Boylston, MA. The service will begin at 11:00 AM followed by a reception and light lunch.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Second Chance Animal Shelter in East Brookfield.