Betty Fisher

Betty Fisher
June 28, 1958 - March 25, 2007
Chicago, Illinois
Memorial Service: 1:30 p.m. April 07, 2007 at Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel
Betty J. Fisher, PhD Betty J. Fisher, PhD, 48, passed away at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL, on March 25, 2007, surrounded by family and friends. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2006; after completing nearly a year of treatment, she learned the cancer had metastasized to her lungs on January 30, 2007. Her exit was filled with the same spirit, strength, and grace as her life. "Dr. Betty" was an attending clinical psychologist and Coordinator of Behavioral Medicine Service at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Department of Psychiatry, since November 1998. She was actively involved in the treatment of chronic-pain patients and patients with diabetes, participated in clinical research activities, and was Director of the Behavioral Health Psychology Practicum, a clinical training program for doctoral students. Betty graduated from Sigourney High School in 1976. She went on to earn a B.A. in Psychology from Goshen College in Goshen, IN (1982); Master's degree in General and Experimental Psychology from Ball State University in Muncie, IN (1989); and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI (1996). She completed a post-doctoral internship at Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario, and a post-doctoral fellowship in Behavioral Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. Betty was born June 28, 1958, at the Keokuk County Hospital. She is the daughter of Cloyd Jr. and Mabel L. Fisher of rural Sigourney, IA. She is survived by her husband Stanley (Themba) Fakude of Chicago, IL. Betty and Themba were married March 25, 2006, at Coit Tower in San Francisco with her sister, Susan, officiating. Betty's siblings are Susan (David) King of La Jolla, CA; Amy (Kevin) Molyneux of Rose Hill, IA; Randy (Coleen) Fisher of Keswick, IA; Steve (Sherry) Fisher of Sigourney, IA; Mary (Ed) Fowler of Rose Hill, IA; and Kathleen Fisher of Minneapolis, MN. Betty was aunt to Melissa (Molyneux) Van Donselaar, Aaron Molyneux, Joe and Josh Fowler, Amanda (Fisher) Berg, Brittany Pitzer, Skyler Fisher, Sara Fisher, Damien Grant, Danette Moore-Diamond, and Deric Bayzn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Block Medical Center, which treated her cancer and provided options to pursue when no one else would. Those donations can be sent to the Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Education [501(c)(3) Tax ID# 363252419], 1800 Sherman Ave., Suite 515, Evanston, IL 60201. In addition, Betty was an avid walker, having completed the Dublin Marathon, three Chicago Marathons, and the Hustle up the Hancock. Thus, she was also a huge supporter of the availability and accessibility of public restrooms, and a founding director of the American Restroom Association; donations can be made in her name at www.americanrestroom.org/admn/donate/index.htm. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2007, at the Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel in Sigourney. A reception will follow the service at the Copper Lantern in Sigourney. Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service in Sigourney is handling the local arrangements.