`She Deserved The Chance'
DAVID SACHS
ner that individual might choose."
Sheri earned a doctorate in instruc-
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tional technology from Wayne State
t services Dec. 24 for his
University and was an active volunteer
wife, Sheri Devries' hus-
at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan
band Jeff thanked the
Detroit in Farmington Hills. She
many family members who
began a babysitting class at Hillel,
had offered to join him as a lung
helped initiate the computer room and
donor in an attempt to rescue Sheri
taught electives in computers there.
from the ravages of cystic fibrosis.
"During her years of progressive ill-
"You were willing and even anxious
ness," said Jeff, "she always maintained
to give of yourselves and there
a very positive, upbeat and
can be no greater tribute of
optimistic attitude. Her fight-
your love for Sheri," Jeff said.
ing spirit never wavered, even
Sheri's brother Steve Traison
at the end, and she was
wound up,. along with Jeff,
always willing to do whatever
donating a lobe of his lung to
was necessary to get better."
Sheri.
At the funeral, Rabbi
Steve's wife, Janice Traison,
Yoskowitz read from an essay
said that the transplant sur-
Sheri and Jeff's 13-year-old son
geons were at first very hesi-
Danny had written about his
Sheri Dev ries
tant about taking her as a
mother. "Danny wrote, 'My
patient. "With Jeff's persistence, they
mother Sheri is a hero, because she
felt that this was truly her only
fights to get better and never lost hope.
chance. She deserved the chance."
She once said she has become a better
Recalled Steve, "Jeff sent in a beautiful
person because of the monster that is
letter to her surgeon, about Sheri and
cystic fibrosis.
the donors. There was such a long list of
"'My mother will never give up
donors that were stepping up to do this.
fighting. She always manages to see
The surgeon felt that he had to do this
the brighter side of things."'
to give Sheri a chance to live because she
Sheri and Jeff's three children,
was such a beautiful person."
Danny, David and Rachel, along with
Sheri Devries, 44, of West Bloomfield,
niece Elizabeth Traison were pulled
died Dec. 21 at the University of
out of there classrooms at Hillel in
Southern California Hospital in Los
time to speak by telephone to Sherri
Angeles. Although her double-lung
before she died.
transplant itself was successful, she suc-
Said Jeff, "Even though it had to be
cumbed to a fungal infection that had
by telephone in the moments before her
.existed prior to the Nov. 8 surgery.
soul went up to heaven, I know that
At her funeral Dec. 24 at Hebrew
Sheri received great peace and comfort
Memorial Chapel, the overflow crowd
from the fact that the last people to
mirrored the outpouring of volunteers
speak into her ears were her children."
who had offered her a lung. Sheri's
Sheri Devries is survived by her hus-
rabbis, Daniel Nevins and Herbert
band, Dr. Jeffrey Devries; children Daniel,
Yoskowitz of Adat Shalom Synagogue,
David and Rachel; parents Larry and
spoke of her warmth and contribu-
Barbara Traison of Bloomfield Hills;
tions to the community.
grandmother Ruby Springel; brother and
Said Rabbi Nevins, "From her inner
sister-in-law Steven and Janice Traison of
circle to those people who enjoyed just
West Bloomfield; father-in-law and moth-
a fleeting contact with Sheri, all were
er-in-law Robert and Helen Devries;
warmed by her smile and moved by
brother-in-law and sister-in-law Stephen
her compassion.
and Pam Devries; uncle Harvey Traison of
"Throughout her life, Sheri expressed
New York; nieces and nephews Elizabeth
great love for all sorts of people, for the
Traison, Rebecca Traison, Randi Traison,
elderly and for the young. In health
Joshua Devries and Andrew Devries.
and in illness she was an angel of mercy
Contributions may be made to Cystic
enriching the world all around her."
Fibrosis Foundation, 1133 E. Maple,
Said her husband, "Sheri had an
Troy, MI 48083; Hillel Day School,
intense love of Judaism, the Jewish
32200 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, MI
people and the State of Israel. Her
48334; Jewish Academy of Metropolitan
Jewish beliefs and practices enriched
Detroit, 6600 W. Maple Road, West
her life so much that it was difficult
Bloomfield, MI 48322; or to a charity of
for her to understand why any Jewish
one's choice. Interment was at Machpelah
person couldn't see the value of living
Cemetery. Services and arrangements by
an active Jewish life in whatever man-
Hebrew Memorial Chapel. 77
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