Tuesday, October 8, 2019
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My sorrows unite with every other person who loved and cared about this precious lady. We will feel her loss in so many ways. And yet, she deserves this rest. She's worked so tirelessly for so long.
I've been blessed enough to know Joann for nearly 15 years, and in all that time, I've never seen her act selfishly, or without regard for others. She picked up friends like she was picking a bouquet of wildflowers. And then she tended each and every one of her 'flowers', never leaving us to wither or go without her sunshine.
So many times she would talk about her family. We saw pictures, heard stories, and got to know her grandchildren through Joann, without ever having met them. We heard about her son, and her siblings. We saw the pride in her face and heard the love in her voice as she would speak about those she cared about.
Although she loved all of her family, I know she had special concerns for Jai'onna and Myoki, working hard to help give them values, caring, understanding, and most of all....love. I pray that all of the family will come together to help James with these precious girls. Joann was their mother figure more than a grandmother figure, and when I was looking through her pictures on her phone with her, and saw pictures of the girls with certificates, smiling and happy, I could feel the pride Joann had in them as she took those pictures.
Even as she was suffering through cancer and treatments of her own, she would ask for prayers for her family, as they faced obstacles of their own. She was particularly concerned about her sister and her own fight with breast cancer, asking that we continue to pray for her. It was yet another example of how her heart was always with others.
Hearing that she was 'cured' and going back in October just as a formality for a final appointment, I was extremely shocked when she was suddenly in the hospital and going downhill quickly. I know others shared that shock, and she had many visitors. I met quite a few family and friends as I visited her, and each person showed a love and respect for the person that Joann was. I enjoyed stories, pictures and the warmth that comes from knowing that you are not alone in your admiration for such a special person.
I know without doubt that my life is richer for having had Joann in it. She was always Jo or Joann to me, never Toni, and yet hearing so many people call her that, I feel like it fits her perfectly. Called by any name, she is ours to cherish. The memory of her will affect us all forever. Seeing how selfless and caring she was will remind us to take care of our friends and family.
I will dearly miss her imoge filled texts checking up on me. I will miss her laugh, her raised eyebrow look, her spontaneous dancing or singing, and the love that she brought to my life. The best tribute we can give her is to be good friends to each other, to be kind to our fellow human beings, to treasure our families, and to carry the best of her forward with us in our hearts and memories.
Until we meet again, my friend....
