Memories and Reflections
Meredith was a beautiful example of someone who exemplified faith, love, and devotion. She had steadfast faith and trust in the Lord. She took on whatever was asked of her with grace and composure, trusting the Lord's plan without wavering. She was devoted to her family as well, welcoming each of her children as a gift from God. She touched countless lives with her passion for education, either for her students in the nursing department or assisting families with natural family planning. Her intellect and faith was so inspiring to me. She believed, trusted, loved, and lived well.
You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith – rest in peace my dear friend.
Janet Johnson, MSN, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Meredith’s passing has left me quiet inside, in that space where words are few. From my heart, I offer this simple haiku:
devoted mother
wife, teacher, colleague, and friend
unwavering faith
Meredith, I will miss your bright smile, your spunk, and your style! Your fun sense of humor, brilliant mind and kind heart. You lived your life as a prayer, trusting God is always there. I loved asking about your children and how animated and joyful you always were when speaking of them. I trust you are near them still and will always watch over and protect them. Peace be with you and your family. Thank you for making such a positive difference in this world!
Terri John
Carroll Nursing Department's "secreTerri"
Meredith touched the lives of so many at Carroll and the Helena Community. When I think of Meredith, I am reminded of her steadfast and unwavering faith in God. She lived her faith in all aspects of her life and interwove it into teaching & interactions at Carroll. She would often lead the class in a prayer before class or an exam.
Meredith was passionate about Nursing and caring for those in need, in particular children and the most vulnerable. She was a dedicated and innovative teacher of nursing. I recall that she used to ask friends in the community to bring their children to Carroll for the students to practice interacting with children and performing physical assessments on them. It was one of the highlights of the clinical experience for the students (and the visiting children too). She liked to try innovative teaching strategies to help students understand difficult content. I also recall that she enjoyed bringing in treats (donuts and pastries) for her students at the end of the semester or when they had finished their final clinical experience. She loved to see students succeed! She had a passion for women's and children’s health and loved to share this passion with students.
Meredith exuded empathy, compassion, love, and lots of laughter. I am reminded of the several times I would see her come to the Nursing floor in Simperman with several of her kiddos in tow. It reminded me of a mother duckling and her little ones. Meredith’s face would always light up when she talked about her kiddos.
Meredith would look for the positive in a situation and persist through life's challenges with determination. She will be greatly missed by all in the Nursing Department. I remember so often taking a few precious moments to sit in her office or in our small kitchen and chat about the day or have a much-needed laugh. Meredith had great insight and perspective on many situations and was often able to see a side of a situation in a unique way that would offer a new point of view for all of us.
Maria A. Brosnan, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CNE, CHSE
Associate Professor of Nursing
I first met Meredith while working together at a medical provider’s office a few decades ago. She was a young graduate of Johns Hopkins at the time, and she exuded confidence as a new Nurse Practitioner. Even back then, in an office full of young female nurses, Meredith inspired others to think about what professional life might hold for them. She was proud to be a Nurse Practitioner and her journey towards obtaining her Doctorate in Nursing was just another way Meredith showed what is possible for young people, especially women—all while being mom to 7 beautiful, tow-headed children, wife to Eric, and enduring cancer. She inspired young men and women to go beyond what they believe they are capable of both inside and outside the classroom. Meredith held a high standard for herself and for others. She cared deeply for her students. I will miss her gentle voice and the occasional pronouncement of, “Oh sugar,” when things would go awry. Her faith was her constant, and I believe it drove every decision she made. Meredith, you will be deeply missed.
Sarah Ahmann Crowley, BN, RN, IBCLC
Former Clinical Resource Nurse for Care of the Family, NU301
If I had to describe Meredith in a phrase, it would be: massively competent. Whether it was caring for patients, teaching, putting together a creative PowerPoint presentation, multitasking, listening, or nurturing her family, she managed to juggle it all exceptionally well.
I had gotten to know Meredith Krutar a little as she lived near me in the Montana City area, and also because I had done some adjunct teaching of maternal child health in the nursing department at Carroll.
In the winter of 2011, the doorbell rang and when I answered it, there stood Meredith on my front porch which surprised me as we don’t get much unexpected company out here. She had come over over to ask a favor of me. She somberly announced, “I’m pregnant!” I expressed my delight, but then she said, “I have multiples.” And despite my years of experience as an OB nurse when she said “multiples,” I was clueless for a second. So when I responded, “multiples?” She said, “ Triplets.”
My jaw dropped to the floor. I yelped and hooted and grabbed her into a hug. Her somberness melted into a big grin. We both cried tears of joy but of anxiety too because a pregnancy with triplets is high risk.
She came over to ask if I would substitute teach for her in the fall semester of 2012 because she was going to be very preoccupied with this complicated pregnancy and a busy maternity leave. Of course, I said yes, and proceeded to count the days with the rest of the faculty as her pregnancy progressed.
Her healthy babies were born right as classes were beginning. All 3 weighed in around 5 pounds each.
Meredith, with Eric’s help, took on mothering their little trio of infants like she did everything- with exceptional skill, organization, enthusiasm and energy. She returned to teach for the second semester of the 2012-2013 academic year.
Having “multiples,” for their first pregnancy, 5 subsequent “singleton,” pregnancies were relatively easy! Well probably not really, but Meredith made it look easy. She had the gift of spreading her competence through every aspect of her multi-faceted life.
Lynn James, RN, MSN
Retired adjunct nursing faculty
