Jeanette was a smart cookie in high school, someone I didn't think I could "hang" with because I didn't carry the same grades as her. How silly that sounds to me now. I remember her being kind and always smiling. She was involved in her activities at school, me with mine and a big regret of mine now is not getting to know her better sooner.
Jeanette and I reconnected October 2009 after I had been diagnosed with breast cancer myself. A friend of ours (Den and me) who is connected with the Red Wings invited me to watch a game in one of the suites with other breast cancer survivors. This was their annual breast cancer fundraiser night. I was told I could invite another breast cancer survivor. I wasn't sure if Jeanette would want to come since we hadn't spoken to each other since our reunion but not knowing anyone else personally who was a survivor, I gave it a shot. She was more than thrilled to come. This is when I started to realize how witty and comical and real Jeanette really was. I remember so vividly when we pulled up to Joe Louis Arena and she saw all those steps which she thought she'd have to climb. Jeanette (in her humorous,
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| Jeanette standing next to Steve Yzerman |
Since that game we really only shared a couple of lunches together and sent a few emails back and forth but each time we conversed I realized what a great gal this was. She had been fighting cancer for years but never seemed to let that be an excuse for not living life. I remember one of our last lunches where she needed the use of her walker and had lost feeling and the use of one of her hands but again, she talked and acted as if life was normal. She never allowed me to feel sorry for her. I had wanted to help her cut her food but I didn't even dare to try to interfere with that as she wasn't going to let this cancer take away the seemingly simple task of cutting her food. We talked about how I was in the midst of redoing my son's room and she told me how she wanted to get to HER son's room to redo. We talked about getting together with Cheri to start planning our 25th class reunion. Life, to Jeanette, was a gift everyday that she woke up and she was going to live it to the fullest.
We did end up having one more lunch together with Cheri to discuss reunion planning which we had all hoped Jeanette would be able to attend. It was a nice lunch on a warm, sunny, October afternoon. Unfortunately Jeanette will not be attending the reunion..
Jeanette passed away on Dec 28, 2010. It was less than two weeks prior I found out Jeanette was in the hospital and I knew I needed to visit her. I felt in my soul this would be the last time I saw her this side of heaven. It was a short visit but nothing less than sweet. Her dad was there when I arrived and he decided to leave when I came. I will never forget Jeanette's response to her dad when he said he'd be back to visit tomorrow. She said, "Okay daddy. Bye daddy. I love you daddy." It was very sweet. A "chemo buddy" was there as well telling Jeanette a story and this friend had nothing but praises to report to me about Jeanette. I learned so much more about Jeanette in this short ten minute visit that I will treasure. I gave her a hug and upon leaving she told me to call her if Cheri and I decided to do more planning for the reunion. So typical of Jeanette. I prayed a prayer of salvation the next day over the phone with her. That would be the last conversation we had.
I attended her funeral on New Year's Eve day, a day where many consider it a celebration of "out with the old and in with the new. It seems fitting to have commended Jeanette to God on this day.....I am told we get new bodies when we go to heaven....out with the old and in with the new. I am confident Jeanette has now received her new, cancer FREE body.....new boobs and all!
Jeanette (Zelazny) Kappe 1968-2010
You will be missed my friend.
