Dr. Peg O. McCuistion
July 28, 1930 ~ May 18, 2015
Dr. Peg O. McCuistion died at her home on Monday, May 18, 2015. She was born one of a pair of twins on July 28, 1930 in Houston, Texas to William Darby Orem, a Houston attorney, and Dorothy Beckett Orem, a native of Dallas, both now deceased. The family moved to Wimberley in 1946 and she graduated from San Marcos High School. She married Palmer Day McCuistion of Wimberley in 1949 and they had a daughter, Leeanne E. McCuistion, now living in Wimberley. Peg was predeceased by her parents, grandparents, sisters, Jane Orem Mayfield and Anne Orem Stapp. In addition to her daughter Lee, Peg is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
In 1959, single, she resumed her education while working full time to support herself and her daughter, earning a bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State University in 1963. Shortly thereafter, she and her daughter relocated to Silver Spring, Maryland, where she worked at the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council while earning a master's degree in hospital administration from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1968. She then was employed as an administrator by Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring until 1979, during which time she became interested in hospice work and traveled to St. Christopher's Hospice in London to study. She subsequently was recruited as executive director by Hospice of Southeastern Michigan in Southfield, a suburb of Detroit. During her seven year tenure there, she guided the hospice from the first meeting of the board through state licensing, Medicare and Medicaid certification, accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, and demonstration project for Michigan Blue Cross and the State of Michigan, as well as research on the use of morphine for hospice patients. A pioneer in hospice work, she was often called "the grandmother of hospice" by her colleagues. She also earned a doctoral degree from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1989.
She returned to her native Texas to take the position of executive director of Hospice Austin, where she served from 1987-1994, when she retired to Wimberley. She then worked as a consultant to hospices in Puerto Rico and Hungary, and studied at hospices in Australia, England and Singapore, formed her own consulting business and worked for a year as consulting administrator for Hospice Home Care-San Antonio.
Peg held memberships in the following organizations: The American College of Hospital Administrators of which she is a Fellow and served on the membership committee; the Maryland Hospital Associations; the D.C. Hospital Associations; the National Hospice Organization of which she chaired the standards and accreditation committee and was responsible for revising the standards for hospices; the Michigan Hospice Organization of which she served on the board, the executive committee and chaired the education committee; the Texas Hospice Organization of which she was president of the board and chaired the legislative and education committees; and the American Hospital Association. She was appointed to the Texas governor, Ann Richards' home health care advisory council. She was named Who's Who of Women, Who's Who of Human Service Administrators and Who's Who of the Southwest. She was elected to Alpha Chi Scholastic Honor Society (Texas Iota Chapter). She was inducted into Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD Legacy Society and was honored by Hope Hospice, New Braunfels, TX for her contributions to Hospice and to Hope Hospice. She believed her greatest accomplishment was raising her daughter and seeing her through a master's degree in social work and on to a career in both pediatric and hospice care.
Special thanks to Janice Breeze, Wimberley Life Care, Wimberley, to Rodney and Kim Dean, Creekside Personal Care Home, Spring Branch, to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels and to Frank Robinson, MD, Austin, for his diligent devotion and care for over 30 years.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Chapel in the Hills Church, 14601 Ranch Rd. 12, Wimberley, TX.
Memorial contributions may be made in Peg's honor to Hope Hospice, 611 N. Walnut, New Braunfels, TX 78130 or to the Chapel in the Hills Church.
"Do not go gently into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." ~Dylan Thomas
Sorry for your loss, she was quite the special lady. Prayers for you Lee and your family.
Dearest Lee, The time I got to spend with Peg was very special to me. We had a deep connection neither one of us understood. Peg was bright and full of passion for end of life care – she and I could talk to hours and DID! I am happy that she is at peace and at rest. I hold her in my prayers. I pray for you, Lee, that your new life will be filled with wonders not possible before. Thank you for putting Peg and I together. With love, Jane Marie
A strong and powerful personal and professional presence has gone from our lives. As each of us carry and nurture her unique essence we should build her legacy. Patients from the past , present and future will receive a higher quality of care because of her core values and willingness to share them with all who cared for the terminal patient and family.
Lee, I know what a wonderful mom Peg was. So glad I got to know her. Your memories of her are a treasure.I know you have her strength to go forward.
I realized that your mother had a busy professional life.I was, however, amzzed to read of her vast experience, impressive accomplishments, and many professional recognitions. You are certainly following her path. Yoou have been a caring daughter,
Such a beautiful and accomplished life — very much a live well-lived, and well-loved. I have been an almost-lifetime admirer of Peg and my dear friend Lee’s family strength, commitment to each other and to the clients and society they have consistently served. Thoughts and prayers to Lee and we know what a powerful legacy Peg has left.
My thoughts, prayers, Love and deep sympathy are with you these days as you journey with your mom as she enters eternal life. What a wonderful person who helped so many over the years! Be sure of my deep affection for you and your mom. Take care! Lovingly, Sister Agnes Anne
My thoughts, prayers, Love and deep sympathy are with you these days as you journey with your mom as she enters eternal life. What a wonderful person who helped so many over the years! Be sure of my deep affection for you and your mom. Take care! Lovingly, Sister Agnes Anne
Remembering an inspirational friend and professional colleague, our Peg. How thankful we are for that first meeting in 1984 and the many years of friendship shared in Western Australia, Texas and beyond. Our deepest sympathy to you dear Lee, your mom had every reason to be proud of you and we know that your memories of Peg will sustain you in the days ahead.
Two lovely Texans visited us ‘down under’ and together with mutual friends, we all enjoyed celebrating the new millennium! Life is full of chance meetings that enrich us. Thank you Peg (and Lee) for being part of this happy memory. Sincere condolences to all who will miss her deeply.
What fond memories we have of meeting Peg and Lee when they ventured “down under” at the turn of this century. We know what a special friendship Peg shared with Joy & Maureen. Sincere sympathies to Lee Penny & Bill Van Ast
I feel sad to learn that Peg McCuistion is no longer with us in a tangible way. Yet I am also filled with appreciation for what remains of her in me through shared events and memories.. She was the kindest of kind and the most trustworthy of mentors that a person like myself (talented, naive, troubled and persistent} could have found. She gave me support and wise ways to assure me of safe ways to honor myself and validate others with honesty, integrity. and respect. Peg believed in the deeper abilities of others and was an able leader unafraid of what appeared daunting circumstance. Now, in her physical absence I celebrate her presence in my life. My wishes to you Lee, whose stories of life with Peg surely reflect all aspects of being a part of the human family. May you be well and full filled. Donna O’Toole (remembering sharing the early hospice family of The Michigan Hospice Organization.).
I remember Peg fondly from when I served on the Hospice Austin board in the early 1990s. Peg was instrumental in an important phase of Hospice Austin’s growth and I will always be grateful that she came through in her career and helped Hospice Austin with her passion and expertise in hospice care. My condolences to her family on her passing. Kim Cook
Recently, I read in the Detroit Free Press, the passing of Peg. My heartfelt condolences to Lee and all family. I met Peg in August of 1981 when she hired me for a position as a midnight nurse at Hospice of Southeastern Michigan (HSEM). Peg was an early pioneer of hospice care, not only in Michigan but also in Washington,as she advocated for options and changes in addressing End of Life Care. She fiercely protected the privacy, dignity and professional care provided to individuals suffering from terminal illness. Peg set the stage for not only myself but hundreds of others in devoting their professional careers to Hospice Care Movement. I was pleased to read in the obit, that she continued to trail blaze, as only she would!!
Today would have been Mom and Aunt Anne’s 85th birthday. I am missing them both and spending the day remembering my incredible mother and her legacy. Loving her very much! Lee
Belated condolences on the loss of your beloved Peg. I have worked for Holy Cross Hospital for 52 yrs. Peg was one of the most dedicated of employees & was greatly loved by all of her co-workers.-Love,Liz