My Mother, Nancy M Stevens
12/17/40 - 11/29/00

In 1979, Nancy faced a tragedy that very few of us will ever have to personally endure, the loss of a child - in the death of her eldest daughter, Patti.  Understandably devastated, she refused to let tragedy dampen her spirit.  She rose to this ultimate challenge of carrying on by immersing herself in her family and career.

In 1987 she faced a new challenge when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She began the first of several tenuous battles that unbeknownst to her and all that knew her, would continue for several years.  Her ever-present inner strength again turned a disastrous situation into a victory. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment to reach a level of health that allowed her to continue to succeed as a professional, a mother and a friend. 

The cancer returned again and again, and she went through chemotherapy three more times with encouraging results.  She refused to alter her lifestyle and let the disease control her.  She continued to work, shop and travel with her friends and family even though she was often very much under the weather, without hair and receiving treatment.

A very bright light shone on Nancy on July 31, 1991, when my sister, Tina, delivered her first daughter, Taylor - her first grandchild.  And soon after, she was blessed with two more grandchildren, Jordan and Ryan.  It has often been observed by family and friends that these young rays of sunshine gave Nancy more fire than ever to face the challenges ahead.  

But on October 2nd, 2000 she was diagnosed with one of the most aggressive and worst types of Leukemia.  More than just a shot across the bow, this was a direct hit on her body, now weary from over twelve years of illness and treatments.  The very next day she began a three-week long series of constant chemotherapy.  At the end of the therapy they found that the drugs had not stopped the disease.  But Nancy still wasn't ready to give up, and began a series of new and experimental drugs.  Unfortunately, these new drugs couldn't stop the dreaded disease either. This left our ever-persistent and death-cheating Nancy no choice but to leave this Earth. With great honor and love, at 8:07 a.m. on November 29th, surrounded by her family, she took her last breath.

She will always be remembered as a woman whose courage was heroically limitless and whose love for her family...immeasurable.
It was with broken hearts and wonderful memories that we said good-bye to our loving mother, a special friend.