Mary Kathleen Wigger

Mary Kathleen “Dee” Wigger, 68, of Nashville, TN died peacefully at her home on May 20, 2022.

She is survived by her three children Michael (Shan) Adams, Chris Adams, and Stephanie Adams; two grandchildren Lu Adams and Riley Adams; sisters Elaine (Don) Eslinger, Rita Wigger, and Paula Gibson; brothers Dr. Mark (Amy) Wigger, Jerry (Donna) Wigger, Joe (Rhonda) Wigger, and Phil (Karen) Wigger; and several beloved nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Wigger and Rita Wigger O’Neil; brother Bob Wigger; sister Cindy Wigger; and stepfather Kleber O’Neil.

Dee was born in Covington, KY on March 27, 1954. She was the third of 10 children and her large, loving family was the pride of her life. The Wiggers relocated to Nashville the summer before Dee entered the third grade. While in high school, she worked alongside her brothers and sisters at their parents’ Burger Chef franchise. After graduating from Father Ryan High School, Dee embarked on a 48-year career as a nurse. Her first 7 years were spent caring for patients in the oncology unit at Parkview Hospital. She followed that time with 30 years of service in the intensive care unit at Parkview Hospital and Centennial Medical Center. Dee spent the last 11 years of her life caring for the terminally ill and their families as a hospice nurse with Caris Healthcare. The scant details above belie the good that Dee did for the medical community of middle Tennessee. Not only did she consistently use her superpowers of natural maternal instinct, solid nursing fundamentals, and infinite compassion to provide the highest quality care a patient could hope for, but she freely gave of her time to mentor junior nurses. Her dedication to her patients was only rivaled by her love and devotion for her three children and two grandchildren, whom she spoke about to anyone who was willing to listen… and likely several who weren’t.

Though this world is dimmer now without her, the good she did in her time here ultimately made it a brighter place for those that she leaves behind.

Special thanks go to the staff at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center and Caris Healthcare for their compassion and dedication to Dee in her final months.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Hendersonville, TN on Monday, June 6 at 1pm. It will be preceded on site with a visitation from 11:30am to 1pm and followed by a lunch. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider making a donation in Dee’s name to Neighborhood Health Tennessee, The Trevor Project, or The American Cancer Society.

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