Something or someone spoke to me while I was peacefully reading my current book. Whatever it was, It caused me to stop the reading and to google Madeleine Sitterding (my cousin) and found among many other publications with her tag—many by her—this obituary. She was six years my senior and passed away in October 11, 2008.
I am sending you to this link because there is a picture with this obituary which shows her as a yet young woman of about thirty, the time frame when I saw her last. The obituary describes an incredibly varied life, wrought with family and professional hurdles. Yet she prevailed. She had to finance her studies herself, and was often interrupted, but earned the respect and support of many of her colleagues.
She earned her PhD in Archeology and worked mostly in Switzerland, but also in Turkey and Italy. She held several high-ranking positions, towards the end of her career in archeology as 'State Archeologist' to the Canton of Thurgau. The list of publications in this obituary reveals a very varied and interesting as well as a productive career, indeed.
Late in life she left her profession and went back to study psychology, which she completed successfully. She practiced in this as therapist while she also worked as publisher of the trade magazine of her field until her death. She died of what is described as a progressive illness.
The colleague who wrote the obituary refers several times to her stubbornness which would put her squarely into the line of her family inheritance. It is shown to us in that she never let any of us know of any difficulties and never asked for help, even as her own father repeatedly addressed his brother for support after his return from Africa in the fifties.
I will include a reprint of this obituary in the family papers.
I am sending you to this link because there is a picture with this obituary which shows her as a yet young woman of about thirty, the time frame when I saw her last. The obituary describes an incredibly varied life, wrought with family and professional hurdles. Yet she prevailed. She had to finance her studies herself, and was often interrupted, but earned the respect and support of many of her colleagues.
She earned her PhD in Archeology and worked mostly in Switzerland, but also in Turkey and Italy. She held several high-ranking positions, towards the end of her career in archeology as 'State Archeologist' to the Canton of Thurgau. The list of publications in this obituary reveals a very varied and interesting as well as a productive career, indeed.
Late in life she left her profession and went back to study psychology, which she completed successfully. She practiced in this as therapist while she also worked as publisher of the trade magazine of her field until her death. She died of what is described as a progressive illness.
The colleague who wrote the obituary refers several times to her stubbornness which would put her squarely into the line of her family inheritance. It is shown to us in that she never let any of us know of any difficulties and never asked for help, even as her own father repeatedly addressed his brother for support after his return from Africa in the fifties.
I will include a reprint of this obituary in the family papers.
Another amazing Sitterding woman! She reminds me a bit of Lulu...
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