*To view a memorial video of Priscilla's life, please click 'Read More' and scroll to the bottom of the obituary text.*

Priscilla Weese, age 89, a resident of Wheaton, passed away Tuesday, September 28, 2021.  She was born March 18, 1932 in Yunanfoo (now Kunming) in the Chinese province of Yunan to Talmage & Grace Payne, who were missionaries serving the Lisu people under the China Inland Mission.

Born speaking only Mandarin, Priscilla lived in Mengha, near the Burmese border. But once she was school age, her father was forced to make an arduous 3000 mile journey to the northern coast of China where she would attend the Cheefoo School for missionary kids. On the trip to the coast, she was carried in a mountain chair by Chinese coolies, while her father rode a mule. She learned to speak English on her way to the school, and didn't see her parents for the next three and one-half years.

When hostilities began to arise in 1941, the U.S. Embassy warned the family to get out of China. They left on the last Japanese ship to dock in American waters before Pearl Harbor.

The family moved to Georgia, where her father founded Carver Bible Institute, the only Bible School for blacks in the Atlanta area amid a segregated school system. She was often shunned by others because of her father's ministry to the local black church.

She attended Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada, then received her nursing degree from Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta, GA., and a nurse anesthetist degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. On her anesthesia boards, she scored the fourth highest in the state.

Priscilla then attended Columbia Bible College for two years to prepare herself for the mission field, where she met her late husband Wightman. Married in 1955, the couple then joined Sudan Interior Mission. Needing to know French to deal with the government of Niger (a former French Colony) the couple spent on year in Paris in French language school.

They were stationed for four years in Dungas, which is on the edge of the Sahara desert, where Priscilla ran a dispensary that saw at least 7 patients a day. They returned for a year of furlough in Atlanta, GA., then returned to the mission field from 1965 - 69, where they were stationed in Egbe, Nigeria, where Priscilla gave anesthesia in Egbe Hospital.

The couple returned for a year of furlough in Syracuse NY. where Wightman finished his masters in journalism at Syracuse University, but circumstanes did not allow them to return for a third term. Following her husband's employment, Priscilla moved to Peabody, MA., where Wightman worked for The New England Fellowship and Priscilla interned in anesthesia at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, then to Houghton, NY., where Wight taught for three years at Houghton College while she gave anesthesia at Cuba Hospital in Cuba NY.

That was followed by a year in Peabody NY., where Wightman worked for The Christian Herold magazine and Priscilla worked for Danvers Hospital in Danvers, CN.
In 1975 the couple moved to Wheaton, where Priscilla enjoyed a 20 year career at Central DuPage Hospital.

Always trying to speak to the culture, Priscilla took time to write editorial letters to the Daily Herald concerning relevant topics that included the value and worth of the unborn, and many were published.

Priscilla was a long-standing member of College Church where she participated in and led women's Bible studies for 20 years – women often stayed in her group for years to glean from her wisdom and hear her many faith inspiring stories. Many beautiful friendships were formed.

Priscilla spent countless hours volunteering at Repeat Boutique and with the Billy Graham telephone ministry. She had a passion to share Jesus with others and would look for ways to give Bibles and special verses to those who crossed her path. As evidenced over the course of her life, Priscilla was eager to partner with the Lord regarding what he was doing. Over the years she served as a sponsor for many Hmong people migrating to the USA. She befriended many, prayed with and for people, and spent time in God's Word – the very fuel she needed to love and live well to the end. This was most evident in her later years at the Windsor Community as she always had a kind word and patient disposition in the midst of her limited capacity. "This too shall pass," she would say. Priscilla enjoyed a good laugh, was authentic, and understood man's frailty. She was full of charity toward others and loved people the way Christ loved her.

She is survived by three children; Daniel, David and Ruth and eight grandchildren; Barb Ketonen, Rachel, Joseph, David and Cassandra Weese and Bethany, Elizabeth and Jonathan Fisher.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Wightman Weese (2013).

A private burial was held at Wheaton Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23 at College Church in Wheaton. A livestream of the service will be available here: https://youtu.be/E2Us6z9JqyQ

Refreshments will be served in the Narthex following the service.

Memorial gifts may be directed to SIM USA , 14830 Choate Circle, Charlotte, NC 28273, Carver Bible College , (Advancement Department,) 3870 Cascade Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30331, or to Columbia International University (Development Dept.), 7435 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.