RISA MARIA KIRCHNER RODEMEYER

HER SMILE, HER LAUGH, HER LOVE Those who knew Risa were warmed by her smile, uplifted by her laugh and touched by her love. Risa Kirchner was born in New Jersey, and grew up in New York City, Manhattan, and in Philippsburg, West Germany, being bilingual almost from birth. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Pace College, now University, and took post baccalaureate and education courses at Hunter College and University of California, Berkeley. With her New York teaching certificate, she started teaching elementary school where most of the new teachers were assigned, Harlem. She loved her students and her job, but after several years, Harlem was not a comfortable place to teach, so she took courses and moved to Berkeley, CA, where she got her California teaching credential and a position in a much safer system, Richmond! While in Berkeley, she attended the University Newman Center, the parish for Roman Catholic students, where she met her future husband, Steve, who was studying in the Chemistry department. After a seven month courtship, they were married in November of 1965, then moved to South Bend, IN, where Steve was doing further research at Notre Dame University. Risa obtained an Indiana teaching certificate and taught elementary school in South Bend. Her teaching career was put on hold by the birth of their first daughter. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Fresno, CA, where Steve had been hired at California State University, Fresno. Their second daughter was born in Fresno, and Risa was a full time mother, cook, scheduler, driver and jill-of-all-trades for many years. Since she had had two good experiences with her Lamaze training for her childbirths, she decided to help other families with their childbirth experiences by teaching Lamaze childbirth. She was the first certified instructor in Fresno, and had to convince many doctors of the value of "natural" childbirth. She taught the classes at home for decades while the daughters were growing up, then taught for several obstetricians, then for St. Agnes Medical Center. At St. Agnes, she also taught breast feeding and sibling classes, and started the Mom's Support Group. She retired from St. Agnes in the mid 2000's. Risa often ran into parents who took her Lamaze classes or participated in her support groups. They always share stories about how important her classes were in their preparation for and experience of childbirth. Risa was always active, enjoying exercise classes and hiking. She also enjoyed theater, dance, antiquing and garage sales, especially collecting chairs and tea cups. Risa and Steve loved to travel and they have been to all seven continents, 22 countries, and 21 states together. Risa first exhibited physical signs of Alzheimers in 2010. It is a terrible disease, but one she bore with her usual grace and dignity. Supporting her journey were her family, her many friends, especially Susan and Nyla, many prayers and the outstanding caregivers at A-Plus In Home Care, St. Agnes Home and Hospice Care, and Somerford Place. At Somerford Place, Risa enjoyed visits from friends, her daughters and her five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Maria Seelecke; her step-father, William Seelecke; her father, William Kirchner; and her brother-in-law, Edward Hughes. She is survived by her husband Steve; her daughters, Lanei and Adine, and Adine's spouse Kathryn; and her grandchildren, Gwen, Andrew, Maggie, Ivy and Kilian. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Peg Hughes, and Jane Bicksler; and her brother-in-law, Jim Bicksler. A Viewing will be held at Clovis Funeral Chapel, 1302 Clovis Ave., Clovis, CA, on Friday, February 24, 2017, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul Catholic Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow, Fresno, CA, on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stephen and Risa Rodemeyer Organic Scholarship Fund; or the Smittcamp Family Honors College Alumni Scholarship at http://www.fresnostate.edu/alumni/scholarship/give.html