Hedwig Mary Weiler

Hedwig Mary Weiler of Charlotte died on December 21, 2021. She was born on October 2, 1934 in Zombor, Hungary (currently Sombor, Serbia) to Katerine and Jakob Weiler. Her family belonged to the large population of ethnic Germans the Donauschwaben who had lived in Eastern Europe for many generations. In the waning months of WWII, Hedi, her mother, and her younger sister fled their home in Hungary to escape the advancing Russian Army. As refugees, they endured extreme circumstances. In September of 1946, at the age of 12, Hedi, with her mother and sister, immigrated to the United States, and the family settled in Chicago. The experience of being a refugee had a profound impact on Hedis life. She never took for granted having a home or the opportunities available to her in the United States.Hedi graduated from the Grant Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago in 1956 as an RN. She then earned her bachelors degree from DePaul University. She was married for 12 years, during which time she lived in the Marinette, Wisconsin area and worked as a hospital nursing supervisor. In 1972, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin where she pursued graduate studies, earning her MSN in Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing in 1974. She went on to become a Board Certified Advance Practice Nurse (APRN-BC) in Mental Health Psychiatric Nursing, as well as a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW). Throughout her long career, Hedi was a counselor, teacher, retreat leader, and spiritual guide. Her abiding interest in the body, mind, spirit connections within and among people, led her to study psychosynthesis extensively. She went on to teach personal and transpersonal psychosynthesis in many different formats and settings. In 1990, she founded Psychosynthesis Center of Wisconsin, and later was a co-founder of the Center for Awakening of Wisconsin. Hedi was actively involved with the international Association for the Advancement of Psychosynthesis; she served on the Steering Committee 2003 to 2009, and made numerous presentations at the AAP conferences. Hedi was a teacher in her very nature. She was innately inclined to share the insights, wisdom, or questions that had come to her, and to do so by whatever means available: From a casual conversation with a grocery clerk through which she could impart an uplifting word, to the teaching of advanced seminars to professionals. From sharing information on Facebook, to guiding individuals in private counseling sessions. In classes and retreats, small gatherings and large, private conversations and conference presentations, Hedi was ever and always the teacher. So also was Hedi a learner an eager, curious, bold student of life. With a keen intellect and an explorers spirit, she delved into a wide-ranging array of interests politics, health, quantum theory, wisdom teachings, RummiKub, and much more. Learning was invigorating to her. She was intellectually brave and adventuresome. Indeed, exploration and learning were embedded in her fundamental view that all of us are here to learn, and this life on earth is our classroom. She never stopped seeing life as a "magnificent journey," full of purpose and meaning.After 33 years in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2005 Hedi moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to live with her dear sister, Hildegard. Throughout her life, Hedi explored different spiritual traditions and philosophies. She was a student of the Ancient Wisdom Teachings for most of her adulthood. In 2011, she was guided to become a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). She was a beloved member of Charlotte Meeting where she found her spiritual home. Through her way of being present to the Divine in everyone, she provided loving support to individuals and the Meeting community as a whole.In recent years, Hedi put into writing, in her blog, some of her wisdom and spiritual insight. In one of her posts, she wrote that: "Where life takes us, provides the opportunity for gaining self-knowledge and unfolding of our true self; expanding of our consciousness, our awareness; and serving humanity to the best of our ability." Hedi served humanity throughout all of her life. As an older sister, an aunt, a nurse, a leader, a teacher, a counselor, a friend, a kind stranger she served humanity in all the forms she met it. She saw the Divine in each person. Hedi offered healing respite to those whose paths crossed hers. As she noted, her name, Hedwig, means refuge in battle. She offered her home as a place of respite, but beyond the physical space, Hedis very presence provided refuge to those who were blessed to know her. Being in her company, in the warmth of her tender compassion and her unfailing acceptance, was like a refuge a shelter during the storms of life, nourishment for the starving soul, a beam of light to show the next step. Hedis lifelong spiritual inquiry was profound and enduring, and she shared the fruits of it freely. She wrote that, "I believe we are Divine Beings, much beloved and supported by the One in whose body we are each one cell." Thus, we are all connected. She believed in the "continuity of consciousness" and that when it is time, the Soul our essence leaves the physical body and returns to the Source. Of her own transition she wrote, "I will be received by the One Love, home again." The time of her Souls transition came at the Winter Solstice the day of the earths turning from darkness to light.In her final blog post, Hedi offered this beautiful benediction: "Let us join together and pour our light and love over the darkness. Let us be aware of the Great Love that holds us always. Let us remember that we ARE One." Her words, her wisdom her gift to all. Hedwig Weiler was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Hildegard Weiler. She is lovingly survived by her nephew Kenneth Klemm (Laurie) and niece Susan Klemm Dunlevy (James). Other beloved nieces and nephews include: Genie Loser, Mark Loser, Michael Loser, Julie Frances, and Luke Lozier. She is further survived by her cousins in Germany and by many, many dear friends companions on the spiritual path. Hedis legacy will be carried on through the countless lives that were touched by her Light and Love. If youd like to make a donation in her honor please consider Charlotte Friends Meeting or Charlotte Village Network. Charlotte Friends Meeting Village Network 570 West Rocky River Rd P.O. Box 32544 Charlotte, NC 28213 Charlotte, NC 28232 [email protected] [email protected]