Pamela Joice Montgomery

Pamela Joice Montgomery, age 64 passed away at home in Madison on Tuesday, April 30th. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Pamela graduated from Tremper High School. She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Parkside extension and ultimately received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Madison. After college she lived for a time in Nova Scotia, Canada, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Eau Claire, Wisconsin. During the 20-plus years she lived in New England, Pamela received her Master of Counseling and Psychology from Lesley University.

Pamela returned to Wisconsin in 1990. She was the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Tibetan Relocation Project where she assisted Tibetan refugees acclimate and establish new lives in America. As a result of her work, she was invited to an audience and received a personal blessing from the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Leader in exile.

After her service to the Tibetan Relocation Project, Pamela joined the staff at Meriter Hospital as a counselor for NewStart, an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment program. After being laid off from NewStart, Pamela moved to Meriter's Occupational Therapy department. All in all, Pamela spent eighteen years at Meriter.

Pamela was preceded in death by her parents Spencer and Elnor (Smith) Montgomery, and is survived by her brothers Spence (Diane) and Mark (Colleen), and her sister Wendy (Howard Collins).

The family offers its thanks and gratitude to everyone who assisted Pam during her final illness: The UW Oncology Department and her doctor Howard H. Bailey, Agrace Hospice Care, Bright Star Home Health Care, and her friends: Carrie, Cindy, Claudia, Ellen, Kathy, Martha, Melinda, Rhonda, Terry B. and Terri M.

Pam requested no memorial. Her ashes will be dispersed in the gardens at Cress Funeral Home via Informed Choice Funeral and Cremation Alternatives.