Mrs. Edwina "Edie" Furman's Obituary
Mary Edwina (Edie) Parker Furman, died March 26, 2021 at the Brentwood Heritage Somerfield Home after an extended battle with vascular dementia. She was born October 9, 1936 to David and Margaret Parker in Media, PA.
She spent her early years in St. Louis MO, and then attended high school in London, England. In 1958, she graduated from Swarthmore College and continued on to a Masters degree in elementary education from the College of St. Rose in Albany NY. She taught elementary school in Albany and E. Greenbush, NY and in New Orleans, LA.
She was married for 62 years to John (Jack) Furman, MD after meeting a year earlier at the Mohonk mountain resort during their college summer jobs. She was a supportive and much loved mother and grandmother. She is survived by her husband Jack, her sons Daniel (Kim), Russell (Kathryn), Robert (Carrie), 11 grandchildren, her sister Margaret (Peggy) Nichols and 6 nieces and nephews.
Edie will be remembered by friends, family and neighbors for her kind, considerate nature; she was constantly putting the comfort and well-being of others before herself. She also had a quirky and playful sense of humor that would surface at unexpected moments.
She took joy in helping others. After her boys were sufficiently grown, she returned to college at MTSU to study adult literacy and was engaged for many years with the Nashville Adult Literacy program, teaching and then training volunteer tutors for the program.
Edie was humble about her own creative talents, which included playing piano, drawing and painting. In her later years, she even wrote the text for a children's book. She shared many adventures with Jack sailing and hiking, and other interests included gardening and particularly reading. Her ability to create a warm and welcoming home was a gift to us all.
Thanks are given to the staff at Somerfield Nursing Home and to Alive Hospice for the excellent care given to Edie during her illness. In lieu of flowers, a Memorial donation can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at jdrf.org. A visitation will be held at Spring Hill Funeral Home in Nashville on Saturday, May 8, 2021 from 9-10am, with a graveside service beginning at 10am in Historic Spring Hill Cemetery.
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