Vera Dusseau

May 29, 1925 - January 2, 2013

Vera Andress "Tutti" Dusseau was born in Adams County, Indiana on May 29, 1925. Her parents were William F. Andress and Minna A.(Baumgartner) Andress. Tutti passed from this world on January 2nd at 8:50 PM. But didn't she ramble! Tutti graduated from Hartford High School in 1943. She then graduated with her Registered Nursing degree in 1948 from Indiana University. While she was in nursing school, she was a member of the Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII. After graduation, Tutti and 2 friends from nursing school, decided to join the Veteran's Administration Hospital system. Based on a coin toss, they all moved to Los Angeles, California. Tutti met and married Alphonse Emanuel Dusseau in Los Angeles. She returned to live in the midwest and gave birth to their daughter, Annette, 1961.

After returning to Indiana, Tutti returned to Indiana University to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then attended St. Francis College and graduated with her Masters degree in Education in 1969.

Tutti worked in the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Fort Wayne. She worked for a total of 33 years in the VA system. She was instrumental in establishing the 1st Intensive Care Unit at the V A Hospital in Fort Wayne. She also was diector of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit there. Tutti and Dr. Sung Su Kim designed and patented a revolutionary surgical instrument while working for the VA. Tutti also was the 1st CPR Instructor to teach CPR to the Berne Fire Department.

Didn't she ramble...Tutti traveled with her mother, Minna Andress, her sister, Grace McBride, and her daughter, Annette to Europe in 1973 and again in 1979. The travel involved a lot of family genealogy research in Switzerland and Germany. They went with one of their Swiss cousins on a hike to the ancestral home in the Jura Mountains near Bern. After retiring from the VA, Tutti didn't sit in a rocker and rest. She spent several years helping her niece, Jeanne Dubach, in her business, Rock Creek Bait and Tackle. Tutti earned the name "Worm Lady" with a lot of the customers and suppliers.

Didn't she ramble...Tutti's daughter joined the Army in 1986 and was stationed in Germany for 5 years. Since Tutti was retired, she would visit Annette for months at a time. They traveled all over Europe including visiting family in Switzerland again.

Didn't she ramble...In 1997, Tutti build a home on Mobile Bay in Alabama. During the last years of her life, she spent most of her time there. She also spent her summers with her daughter in Missoula, Montana. Tutti always made time to return to Indiana for a month or 2 to stay with family in the Berne area. The urge to travel came again in 2003. Tutti decided she wanted to go to Anzio, Italy to visit where her brother, Floyd was killed in the invasion of Italy. Tutti, her daughter, Annette and her son-in-law, Shawn Modula made a trip to Anzio where they were treated like celebrities by the people there. There was a ceremony at the Museo dello Sbarco di Anzio where Tutti was presented a certificate of thanks from the people of Anzio.

Didn't she ramble...in 2008 Tutti, Annette, Shawn and Shawn's mother, Adell visited Hawaii. Tutti traveled from the heights of Mount Mauna Kea to the ocean depths on a submarine trip.

She was truly a student of the world and continued to travel as long as she was able.

Tutti was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Ruth(Andress) Studebaker and Grace(Andress) McBride, her brothers, Floyd Andress and Robert Andress, and her ex-husband Alphonse E. Dusseau. She is survived by her daughter, Annette Dusseau and her son-in-law Shawn Modula, her sisters, Donna (Andress) Wilson, and Pearle "Penny" (Andress) McMillen, and her sister-in-law Carolyn(Biberstein) Andress. She is also survived by many nieces; nephews and cousins. She will be missed by all! A memorial service is planned for a date to be announced. Donations can be made in her name to the American Heart Association.

Arrangements by Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home, Berne