While working at New VIsta Post Acute Care Center in West L.A. I was at the nursing station doing my patient chart notes, like any other day. Except this day, I looked up from my heavy book and saw a lady talking to the head nurse. I thought she looked familiar. I glanced back to my notes, as if to say "not possible." I glanced away and pulled from my memory, mental images I had of Amanda from her early modeling days- and I knew it! I got up from my seat and walked inconspicuously closer to read her bagde. It read, "Amanda Jeffries." I ran to the rehab department to tell my rehab manager, she inevitably helped put me back on my feet. Clearly I was moved.

I approached Mandy alone and less than half way through my stumbling introduction, she knew who I was, and whose daughter I was.

I cannot begin to describe the intense feelings of being reunited with a family I never really knew. I was thrilled at the idea of getting a chance perhaps to see my cousins Gina and Vanessa again, and realized there were more cousins. It was a wonderful opportunity to find out more...partially fill in some gaps...we all live such busy lives don't we? But my affection runs deep regardless of the distances.

Amanda was warm and affectionate. I had not see her in 30 years. It is fair to admit I never really met or knew her before, but she had met me as a baby. 

I will always regret not seeing John again, but perhaps it was for the best. Now I can cherish these memories that will always hold a special place. This truly was a "Chance Meeting" and meaningful to me.

We will be celebrating Mandy's life on Sunday, Oct. 26th at 1pm in the Holy Family Chapel of the Carondelet Center, 11999 Chalon Rd., Los Angeles (Brentwood) CA. A link to the address is below. PASS IT ON!!

https://www.google.com/maps/place/11999+Chalon+Rd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90049/@34.082955,-118.4811755,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2bcd3d225420d:0x4aed4b59912cbdb6 

1951 - 2014 Amanda Lee Jeffries passed away surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, of complications resulting from cancer. Born in Mexico City to American expatriate actor/writers, she was raised in Palmdale, then Hollywood, where she began her professional career as a model and actress while at Belmont High School. After studying at UCLA, her career blossomed in San Francisco, then New York (by way of Paris). An in-demand model working for designers such as Bill Blass, she maintained a busy schedule with various stage repertory groups, as well as television and radio commercials, and bit parts in films. "Mandy" had the gift of seeing through the camera right into your soul. You'd have never met her, yet you knew she cared about you. In the 90s, she answered a new calling as a nurse, graduating in 1993 from Philips Beth Israel School of Nursing as its valectorian and founder/president of her Nursing Students of North America chapter. Her new career returned her to Los Angeles, where she spent nearly two decades as Nurse-Case Manager at VITAS Innovative Hospice. She was known for her lovingkindness to patients and their families, and was cherished by hospice and facility staff alike. It was VITAS that took care of her in the end, providing a comfortable and peaceful passage. Mandy had a very quick wit, was the life of every party, and made everyone in any room feel special; a lover of animals and a drum-major for justice; a seeker after the heavens, feasting on higher truths regardless of their origin. She believed in angels, and she was one. Mandy left no children, but her nieces, Felicia Rincon (Daniel) and Julie Huguet, and nepher Virgil Huguet, loved her as a second mom. She leaves behind her loving companion, Jason van Leeuwen, and a sister, Chloe; predeceased by a brother, John, and a sister, Rozie. A celebration of her life will take place in late October in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Exact times and dates will be posted on forevermissed.com/amanda-lee-jeffries . Contributions in her memory can be made to the World Wildlife Fund (worldwildlife.org), National Parks Conservation Association (npca.org), and/or VITAS Community Connection (vitas.com/community). May her spirit ever light our darkest nights.

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?pid=172570827#sthash.kJ8UA5ew.dpuf

Dear Mr. van Leeuwen. We felt a great sense of loss hearing about Amanda’s death. We wanted to let you know that you have our sincerest sympathy, and we are truly saddened. Amanda was a wonderful person and student. She was extremely intelligent, very active in student government, and was especially kind and considerate to all of us. She was a wonderful role model to her peers and younger students. They all were able to learn so much from her.

 She was, indeed, the epitome of what a nurse should be and is. Her passing will not only leave a void in our lives, but in the hearts of those who knew her.

 Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with you.

 With our deepest sympathy,

Lynn Rubenstein, MA, RN

Acting Dean/Associate Dean
Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing
New York, New York, 

Amanda with grandmother Helen Zylkov Hartman 1897-1968 and sister Kloe