Frederick Herzog

Frederick J. Herzog, 58, died Saturday at his home in Snellville, Georgia. He was a native of Syracuse and was the son of Carolyn and the late Lewis F. Herzog.
Fred was a graduate of Henniger High School and received his A.A.S. in Business Administration from Onondaga Community College. He was a safety manager at Carrier for over 14 years and a safety director at Nestlé Chocolate for over 12 years before retiring in 2004. Fred enjoyed hunting, fishing and karate.
He was predeceased by his father, Lewis F. Herzog in 2000 and his brother, Joseph in 1983.
Fred is survived by his wife, Laurice Kaffayeh; his two daughters: Kimberly M. Amodio, and Kelly M. Herzog; his son: Jon F. Herzog; his mother Carolyn Herzog; two sisters: Hazel Badore and Maria Saumier; his six brothers: Lewis, Raymond, Thomas, Frank, Charles, and George; his two granddaughters, Morgan and Mackenzi Herzog; and an uncle, Frank Rinaldo.
Friends and family may call Thursday and/or Friday from 6-9pm at Krueger Funeral Home, 2619 Brewerton Road, Mattydale. Services will be held on Saturday, 10:30am at the funeral home followed by burial in North Syracuse Cemetery. Donations can be made to the American Liver Foundation. Donations can be made online at http://www.liverfoundation.org/donate/ or via mail at the address below.

Deceased Information: Frederick J. Herzog

Notice of Gift to: Mrs. Laurice Herzog Wife of deceased, 4411 Gin Plantation Dr., Snellville GA 30039.

Or by mail to: American Liver Foundation, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603, New York NY 10038-4810

Letter from Laurice to Friends and Family

Many of you want to know how Fred came to be sick. In an effort to reduce repetition, I have written the following summary.

Fred has been sick for the past 10 years with Fatty Liver and Diabetes. A couple of years ago, his fatty liver progressed to Cirrhosis. He needed a liver transplant. When we moved to Snellville, GA 15 miles East of Atlanta he went through testing at Emory for a transplant. He was denied because they found a tumor in his bile duct and suspected a type of cancer that would not be helped with a transplant. We then went to Mayo Clinic in Florida, and they turned him down because of where the tumor was and suggested a type of nuclear-infusion-therapy.

We returned to Atlanta where Piedmont Hospital, was licensed to due the nuclear therapy. Upon reviewing his records and performing more biopsies, they found he would be a good candidate for a transplant. The only way to know for sure was to check his lymph nodes to ensure the cancer had not spread there. Since the lymph nodes were too deep in the liver to biopsy, they would have to biopsy them at time of transplant to see if they could continue or not. In October 2007, he was called for a transplant. Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes as well as outside the liver. The transplant had to be aborted.

In late February, Fred developed a bacterial infection in his blood from the IV tubes. Ultimately, he was able to beat the infection, however, the infection caused other complications with his body's fluid balance and liver and kidney functions. Eventually, the liver and kidneys failed.

On a positive note - Fred's last days were blessed. Near the end, he wanted the breathing tubes removed. He wanted to be able to talk with his children and me. For three hours, we had the old Freddie back. He was funny, cute and playful. He spoke to all 8 of his brothers and sisters, his best friend, some nieces and nephews and a couple of other close people, and they all got to say their final good-byes. How wonderful and fortunate is that? How many times have we wished that we were able to say good-bye to a loved one?

Fred made it through the night without the ventilator and we were able to bring him home through hospice care. We are not sure if he knew he was home because he was on a morphine drip, however, we were comforted in knowing he was in his own home in his own bed. In the evening, the children and I gathered around talking, singing, kissing, and caressing him, etc. Towards the end as his breathing became more labored, each child took their own private time with him to tell them their feelings and thoughts. I wanted to be last with him as my greatest wish was to lay next to him one more time.

I laid next to him and held him and kissed him and caressed him. I told him it was okay to go to sleep. I told him that I knew that he was tired and that he should rest. I told him that he had fought a valiant fight. I told him he lived a wonderful life. I told him he had lots of people who loved him and were positively affected by him. I told him to be proud of his accomplishments.

Shortly thereafter, Fred passed away with his children and me by his side. So, while it is very sad that we have lost a wonderful friend, comfort yourselves with the good times, the memories, and the belief that one day, we will all be together in paradise.

Laurice Herzog