Donate in Memory of Laura Shive Tuttle
Obituary: Laura Shive Tuttle
Published in The Boston Globe on January 2, 2013
TUTTLE, Laura Shive 50, of Raynham MA, formerly of Bridgewater, NJ, died peacefully on December 27, 2012 after a valiant three-year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Laura was an exceptional person who spent most of her life helping others. She was a nurse, an educator and a national healthcare consultant. She earned a BS of Nursing from Skidmore College in 1984 and an MBA from the University of Colorado in 2004. She was on the Board of Directors of ALS Association – Massachusetts Chapter and was a member of the public policy committee of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Massachusetts. Her motto was “Life is about passion and purpose, live it that way and you will never have any regrets”.
When Laura was diagnosed she did not say “Why Me” rather she said “Why Not Me”. She knew thru faith that she was given a new purpose. She needed to do whatever she could to advance a cure for this disease and her passion became giving a face and a voice to the cause. She spoke publically and gave interviews to all that would listen, including multiple trips to Washington D.C. to advocate for ALS research and an appearance on the MDA-Jerry Lewis Telethon in 2010. She participated in as many clinical trials as were available to her, and continued teaching the healthcare community about the special needs of ALS patients throughout her own illness.
Earlier this year she received the National ALS Heroes award from the ALS Association in Nashville, TN for her commitment, passion and fight. She made us all believe that a cure is achievable. She lost her fight but her passion will live thru those who knew her.
Laura is the loving wife of Richard L. Tuttle of Raynham, MA, and devoted mother of Marissa Tuttle Daddio and her husband Jeffery Daddio of Chelsea, MA. She is the loving daughter of Richard and Patricia Shive of Bound Brook, NJ. Loving sister of John T. Shive and his wife Judith Shipper of Bridgewater, NJ, Nancy Shive Tanella and her husband Jude Tanella of Jersey City, NJ, Lisa Shive Morris and her husband Dr. Robert Morris of Cortland, NY and loving aunt of Patrick and Hannah Morris of Cortland, NY.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Ann’s Church, 660 N. Main St., Raynham on Saturday, Jan. 5th at 11:00 AM and a visitation period will be held on Friday, January 4th, 2013 at the Prophett-Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 98 Bedford St. BRIDGEWATER from 4:00-8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the following organization that was extremely helpful to Laura and her family during her three-year battle: Compassionate Care ALS, PO Box 1052 West Falmouth, MA 02574 www.ccals.org. For online guestbook and dir.’s visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com Prophett-Chapman Cole & Gleason 508-697-4332
