Angela Arduini Fels Memorial Fund
As some of us may already be aware, Angela Arduini Fels was just laid to rest on Saturday, September 19th, after a lengthy battle against cancer. Since many of her students have moved out of Erie and perhaps couldn't make it to the funeral, or may not even know about her passing---I have set up this memorial fund in hopes to help her grieving family cover some of the mounting medical bills, in addition to some of her final expenses.
For the last 25 years, Angela has been self-employed as a private music teacher, so unfortunately most of her costly cancer treatments were NOT covered by health insurance. Yet despite her Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Angela remained optimistic and fought tirelessly and courageously to persevere---right up until the end. She had several rounds of intensive chemotherapy and surgery, visited specialists throughout Erie, and also had to frequently travel to Pittsburgh for follow-up oncologist appointments. Throughout this awful time, her positive attitude never changed, and she never lost her beautiful smile.
Angela was born in Erie on March 25, 1952, a daughter of the late Louis and Ann Scutella Arduini. She was a graduate of Strong Vincent High School, Class of 1970. Angela Arduini Fels started singing at the age of 6 with the loving guidance of her late father Louis P. Arduini. From that day forward, she never stopped performing. First in Church, then elementary school, junior high, high school, and then she received her degrees in Music Education as a Voice Major and Piano Minor from Clarion University. In college, she studied music theory and performed an opera with the college orchestra. After student teaching, she turned to performing poplar contemporary music.
Angela had performed from California to New York, Boston to Miami, and in at least 23 states. Her first band was Ruby Port, and later she left town to tour with The Younger Brothers Band, along with East End in Los Angeles, and later when she returned back to Erie with Angel Fire, where she performed at numerous hotels, nightclubs, and private parties for many years. Her last gig on the road was singing in the House Show Group for the Los Angeles Bonaventure Hotel, which has been featured in many movies and television shows over the years, where she resided and performed six nights a week. She also recorded vocals for numerous television and radio advertisements, including First National Bank, Mercyhurst College, and many other local businesses.
In addition to her numerous professional accomplishments in the music business, Angela tirelessly devoted herself for the last 25 years to teaching and mentoring students from all across the Erie area. With Angela's constant guidance and support, many of her students went on to pursue their own successful careers in music, including several Broadway performers, singers and actors from both the stage and screen. To most of her students, Angela was not only a voice instructor and piano teacher---but also a mentor, a role model and a friend who touched the lives of so many of us.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bryan Fels, her husband of 38 years, her only son Matthew, and her sister Tina Arduini Drzewiecki. We will never forget her strength, her selfless dedication to others, and her angelic voice that is now singing with the choirs in heaven. We love you Angela!
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Facebook Posts from Angela Arduini Fels
A Note To My Wonderful Family and Dear Friends:
March 23, 2014 at 2:46pm
My Name is Angela and I have Breast Cancer...I am writing this note on my terms so there is no speculation or rumor....It's taken almost 2 months of testing, biopsies, aborted biopsies and then more testing,..every scan you can imagine, and inconclusive results to get to this surreal place...This past Friday I had a med-port placed in my arm and... it all became very real.....It all started a week before my sons birthday in late January when I found a lump in my breast...There was no going back...Every free moment has been spent in a Doctor's office, a hospital or a lab...or The Regional Cancer Center. Only my husband, son, sister, and immediate family, and a very few close friends have known. I wanted to protect those that I have mentored and loved for years to get to this point of admission and acceptance. I also needed to use this venue to inform my abundantly wonderful relatives who live in other parts of the country and world.
Waiting for results has been excruciating for all of us to find there was cancer in the breast and the lymph nodes. But after multiple tests and the strong possibility of a liver lesion being a hemangioma which is benign, we found that the cancer had spread from my lymph nodes to a 1.9 centimeter metastatic lesion in my liver. This one area makes it Stage 4 breast cancer. I need to start chemotherapy this coming week so we can go for the "cure." If all works well, I will then be re-staged. This means we need to RID the liver of the cancer, and then move forward with more treatment and surgery. In early April, even though treatment will have been started, we are going to Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh for a second opinion...My heartfelt thanks to my very good friend Dr. Roman Bojewski...who is now my mother's Doctor as well...I have great faith in treatment here but need to be reassured that this is the right treatment for me.
It's very hard to be so public about all of this, but I have always been a very private but public person. All the years of performing and meeting so many wonderful people, and then teaching so many amazing and talented people has been my joy and passion....I plan to continue mentoring and living my life to the fullest...Some of you may know that 12 years ago I was very ill...I was intubated and in a medically induced coma for 5 weeks with a small chance of survival. That should tell you that I am a fighter and a survivor...After all I am an Arduini and a Scutella... I have truly been blessed with the best family and friends...Their support and love are immeasurable to me...This being said, I only ask for your friendship, , love and prayers...No sad words or thoughts..Just positive and uplifting influence...That, and our faith in God is what keeps us strong....On this day and every day, I wish all of you good health and great love...Angela
X-Rays:
July 15, 2014 at 8:03am
I am open to conversation on this matter....Needed x-rays today...took forever to get any answers on billing. High deductible, so needed to know cost...How is it that 2 major hospital imaging centers wanted at least $400.00 for 2 views...and then we found that Diagnostic here in Erie only charged $32.00 for the same x-rays and included the diagnosis to be sent to my Doctor??? Please explain why this system is so screwed up....Thanks for your input...I am so disappointed...to say it kindly, in our so called " best health care in the world."
An Update for my Dear Family and Friends:
July 29, 2014 at 6:08pm
I promised I would keep everyone informed during this journey we have been on. After 6 very hard chemotherapy treatments I have recently been given the results of my latest cat-scan and breast MRI. I truly believe all of our prayers were heard, because the results have been much better than expected. The breast coordinator at the RCC told me she has only seen results like this 3 or 4 times, and I am assuming that these are patients in similar situations as mine. The cat scan for the liver says there is no focal hepatic lesion seen. The small mass in the liver seems to be gone! As far as the breast MRI, there is no suspicious areas that might suggest residual malignancy. Specifically, the areas that were involved in the beginning of treatment are no longer confidently visualized. There is also continued reduction in the lymph nodes. Yes, I had to read these tests a few times, and just listened to Diane explain it all to me...Basically, this is the response they long to see, and I responded amazing well to chemotherapy.
My surgery is scheduled for next week, and I wanted everyone to know how very much your prayers and thoughts have meant to all of us. Your uplifting and positive tone have made a very rough time so much more bearable. I would also like to publicly thank the Doctors and Nurses and Staff at the Regional Cancer Center for their amazing professionalism and kindness. A very special thank you to the Infusion nurses who work so very hard and stay so focused and compassionate. We are so very fortunate to have this facility right here in Erie. I can honestly say that going through such aggressive treatment and traveling would have been next to impossible for me. Once again thank you all as we move forward. Angela
Final Update:
September 2, 2014 at 7:39pm
We are very hopeful that tomorrow will be my last surgery on this breast cancer journey. Today my last drain was removed (finally), and in the morning I will have liver surgery on the small metastatic lesion that wasn't visible on my last CT scan. Hopefully it will be laparoscopic, which will make the surgery much easier and the recuperation much sooner, but it isn't guaranteed. So once again I thank all of you for your amazing kindness, thoughts and prayers. This is a very humbling time, and none of us imagine that it will happen to us.
My first surgery which was a month ago yesterday went so very well under the hands of Dr. Engel. I was told recuperation was a long road, but I felt quite good within days. It must be those great Arduini and Scutella genes. That surgery was at UPMC, and tomorrows will be at Saint Vincents. My oncologist said Dr. Jones was the only surgeon in this area to do this kind of surgery, and I am very thankful that we don't have to travel....So as promised this is my update...Wishing all of you love, and good health....Angela
See more at: Erie Times Newspaper Obituary http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/erietimesnews/obituary.aspx?n=angela-arduini-fels&pid=175864857&fhid=8581#sthash.nM4QtMMg.dpuf
You Tube: Link to Access Video Memorial
https://youtu.be/jRu4e9sE8Lc
Facebook URL:
https://www.facebook.com/aafels
GoFundMe URL:
https://www.gofundme.com/angelafels
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