Andrea Rene Wickham (1957-2011)
CUERO – Andrea Rene Wickham, age 53, passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2011 after a short, but difficult bout with cancer. She left this earth peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on June 21, 1957 in Greenfield, Indiana. Andi was a beautiful and gentle soul and will be forever missed. Besides her devotion to family, Andi’s greatest passion was animals. She was a lover and caregiver of any animal in need. During her childhood, Andi took in orphaned animals such as deer (Belvedere and others), ferrets, vultures (Igor and others), owls, hawks, raccoons (Honky and others), and birds, along with many dogs and cats. Wherever Andi went, her animal friends were close behind.
She spent many years working at The University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas with Oceanographer Tony Amos and assisted Tony on numerous National Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research trips to Antarctica She worked tirelessly at the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) in Port Aransas, caring for injured animals from dolphins to shore birds to sea turtles. She spent many nights looking after stranded dolphins and countless hours nursing them back to health. Her greatest joy was in releasing them, as well as all recovered animals at the ARK, back to their natural environment.
Andi is survived by her parents RO and Barbara Thomas Wickham of Cuero, brother Drake Wickham of Cuero, sister Kris Fowler and husband Jim of Corpus Christi, brother Matt Wickham and wife Gay of Victoria, niece Adrienne Potter Gasiorowski and husband Scott and son James Patrick of Corpus Christi, niece Sara Potter Mille and husband Sean of Corpus Christi, nieces Kate Wickham and Anna Grace Wickham, and nephew Will Wickham of Victoria. Five of her cherished adopted pets, Emma, Bella, Gus, “Puppy” and Dizzy, also survive her, as well as many additional relatives and friends who mourn her loss.
Andi was cared for by her loving parents during her illness. Her wonderful friend Jane Schnelker gave her tremendous comfort during the last few months, for which the Wickham family is forever in her debt.
A celebration of Andi’s life will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2011, from 2-4 pm at Aransas Princess Conference Center, 720 Beach Access Road 1-A, Port Aransas, TX, 78373.
The family would like to express deep appreciation to Hospice of South Texas who provided invaluable emotional support and medical care in Andi’s last days.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish to remember Andi with a charitable gift, please consider the ARK in Port Aransas or Hospice of South Texas.