Friday, January 2, 2004

Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness that I share with you that Virginia Hebel died peacefully on New Years Day.
Mrs. Hebel fought a very long and often difficult battle against lung cancer with incredible courage and optimism. Thankfully she is now at peace. As per her wishes, I was never at liberty to discuss with anyone the many years of concern over her very serious condition.

Mrs. Hebel was diagnosed with a very rare form of lung cancer in 1993. She persevered through two major surgeries, Summer of 1993 and Summer of 1995, and countless chemotherapies until all medical options were exhausted a couple of years ago. In the recent two years she was fighting a constant stamina and energy battle as the result of these various chemotherapies and what we now know were the development of more tumors in multiple locations.

Through it all she continued to contribute fully as she managed a large accompanist position at LAHS, accepted numerous substituting jobs at countless churches and for two of these years was the interim organist at the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto. Her schedule was amazingly full and the quality of her artistry never wavered.

The last three weeks were particularly difficult. Mrs. Hebel was admitted to El Camino Hospital on December 10, with cerebral pressure due to a then discovered tumor directly impacting her main circulatory and respiratory systems. Although radiation treatment attempts to shrink this inoperable tumor were moderately successful, repeated tries to remove the respirator were accompanied by decreased physical energy and an inability to breath independently. Four days after Christmas another CAT scan revealed numerous new tumor growths in her brain. As the various medical options narrowed a decision was then made to remove life support. New Years Day we shared a beautiful four hours of memories and stories until mid afternoon, when in a brief five minutes she ceased breathing and died.

Mrs. Hebel died in the loving company of her husband, two sons, daughter in in law, four of seven grandchildren, brother, Debbie Yowell and myself. My heart is very sad, yet incredibly grateful for Mrs. Hebel’s amazing life.

It is impossible to put into words how much Virginia has meant to me in my life and how very much I will miss her. She positively impacted my life in so many ways. She was my right hand through 20 years of teaching at Los Altos High School. She was an extremely talented colleague who helped me to understand my own talents, strengths and the true meaning of excellence, commitment and artistry. She was always willing to give of her time and talents to enhance the quality of everyone’s experience through Music. She was also my second chance at having a mother in my life, as I lost both of my parents in 1982.

Virginia Hebel was a remarkable woman, musical artist, teacher, mother, giver, nurturer. In her quiet, yet ever present way, she taught us all, not only music, but in light of what you now know of the past 10 years, she taught us so very much more; how to be courageous in the face of fear, how to give of ourselves regardless of adversity, how to sustain others through consistent encouragement, and how to show love through loyalty and commitment. The list is endless.

My deep sadness lies in the reality that there are no more tomorrows together with Mrs. Hebel in the choir room, concert stage or at church. However, much solace and joy can be easily found in the enormous sense of gratitude I feel for the life of this absolutely remarkable woman who has given us all so very much. She will live on in all of us as we search and strive for so many of these amazing qualities by which she lived.

I often told Mrs. Hebel that I was certain, without any doubt, that she had “spoiled me” for the rest of my career — that no one could ever possess such a rare combination of talents, strengths and commitment, together with such a generous ability to give of themselves as she. Forever humble in the face of any compliment, Virginia would turn and simply say, “I am just so happy to be a part of something so exciting, where excellence is the goal and I can contribute.” She would then open her purse, which was always at her side, pull out a 1-inch pencil and a half sheet of paper, look up over her glasses and ask, “So . . . what time tomorrow?”

She and I spoke often, and I am certain that Mrs. Hebel felt the love and respect you all showed her over these many years. She was so very proud of all of you and your efforts and achievements. I know that you each had a special place in her heart. I will forever miss her exceptionally gifted talents, her ability to endlessly give to us all, her ever present willingness to listen, her boundless enthusiasm and encouragement, her intense desire to be a part of making beauty through music, her partnership in the education of the minds, bodies and most importantly the spirits of the human beings in her midst. I will always treasure the memory of all her sweetness; her radiant smiles, her endearing stories, her cute timeless wardrobe and the beautiful ever so slightly southern accent, which I pray I will always be able to close my eyes and hear. And most of all I will forever thank God for my cherished and loving friendship with someone of such quiet greatness who was so uniquely giving.

“Not to say good-bye,” Virginia Hebel, but rather to say ~

Thank you for your many gifts of love.
How very blessed we are to have had this opportunity to know and love you.
We will remember and love you always.

Sincerely, Mark Andrew Shaull

Memorial gifts may be made to: El Camino Hospital Foundation. 2500 Grant Road. Willow Pavilion. Mountain View, CA 94040. See obituary from SF/AGO 2004.

In Memoriam continued