by Deirdre Kelleher Death, Obituary – On Friday, January 6, 2023, Ms. Deirdre Kelleher, who had worked in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience as a Technical Operative ever since the year 2000, passed away. It is with utmost regret that we have to inform you of her passing away at this time. Deirdre will be remembered fondly by both her coworkers and her students for the compassion and care with which she treated other people. The majority of Deirdre’s work as a technical operator consisted of tasks that were carried out in the background, but her job required her to perform a wide range of duties.
These jobs ensured that the teaching and examining activities that took place in the FLAME teaching laboratory functioned successfully. Students were calmed by the sounds of her knitting needles as she kept a watchful eye on their activities in the FLAME laboratory, where Deirdre was particularly engaged in the supervision of in-class Anatomy spot examinations. Deirdre’s contributions were very important to the smooth operation of the examinations. She made it a point to always make time for students who required reassurance by having a quiet chat with them, continuously listening to what they had to say, and frequently offering them chocolate and Kleenex. She also made it a point to offer chocolate and Kleenex to them.
When the families of our anatomical donors needed someone to talk to, such as when they were having a difficult time coping with the absence of their loved ones on special occasions like anniversaries or birthdays, Deirdre was there to provide that support. She was also there when the families of our anatomical donors needed someone to talk to when they were having a difficult time coping with the absence of their loved ones. As a representative of the Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience and the School of Medicine, Deirdre has been present at the majority of the burials we have held for our donors over the course of the past 20 years.
She was also in responsible of managing all of the personal touches that were included in our Thanksgiving Services. Some examples of these special touches include the invitations that were handwritten and the candles that were given as a mark of our gratitude to the families of the donors.
