From the moment I met Jan almost 20 years ago, she has held a very special place in my life.  She always had a way to make me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry.  She had a way of making every person she met feel special.  Well, Jan, you are the special one.  I never met, or will ever meet, someone like you.  Whether talking on the phone or having pizza at Angelo's with Val, my mom and myself, if I asked a question about something, I would get a phone call and e-mail with all the information I could ever want to answer that question.  I wish we could have had one more lunch together....I'll always remember "hello Donna O".  You will live in my heart forever.  I could go on and on as could everyone else who ever met Jan. I am blessed to have called you my friend.

Jan never met a stranger. She could strike up a conversation with anyone and after a while, she would find a mutual friend, family or acquaintance that would link your life to hers in a way you would never forget her. She knew the name of the produce guy and lady at the deli counter in Acme, Shop Rite, and the clerks at Walgreens and Aldi's or any cashier at any establishment along Route 45! She had a fantastic memory. Even if she didn't see you for a while, she could pick up the conversation where she left off. If you mentioned a particular situation that was going on in your life, she would remember that and ask how things were going with that person or situation the next time she saw you.  

Jan taught me many things in 35 years. Just in the last 4 years, she taught us all about a positive attitude, perseverance and planning. She was realistic about her future. In the last 2 weeks of her life, she met with each of us for breakfast, lunch or dinner or had a phone call or visit with her nearest and dearest. She was trying to prepare us and she was ready for the next phase. I'm sure she is organizing things and enjoying that big reunion in heaven now.

 I've always liked that quote: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Jan spent the last 5 years enjoying every breath by bringing love, kindness and joy to everyone around her. Let's pay it forward in her honor.  

Due to the sadness of this evening, I found it difficult to remember happy times. So this is what came to mind instead. Many years ago and until she passed, my Mom always called me sunshine with a big smile and big hug which was always very special to me. For years I never heard those words spoken to me again which I missed and this saddened me. Then one day Donna, her Mom, Jan and I were meeting for lunch as we often did and out of the blue Jan greeted me with her big beautiful smile with a big hug said “hello sunshine”! It made me so happy to hear those words again and again every time we met. The sad part is that I never told her how much that meant to me. I’m a true believer that when someone passes, whether it be a parent,sibling, relative or special friend that they look down upon us and some how know when we are happy or sad or what’s happening in our lives. My hope is that Jan will finally hear this and know now how happy she made me with that one little word. To me Jan was truly one of Gods special angels put on this earth to make not only me happy but to make everyone she met happy. Jan did that in so many different way. As we all know Jan loved the beach and the sunshine. I know she’s in a place where the sun shines everyday. Jan will surely be missed by all who knew her. I know I miss her everyday and will always miss her. As Jan always said- Hugs, Valerie