(On Living an) Intrepid Life

Well, I thought it was tough writing one of these for Gunther.

I don’t even know where to start with this.
I lost my sister on March 27 as a result of a motorcycle accident.  At the time I was in Cozumel on a cruise and the horrible feeling felt by both my family and myself at the fact I was so far away at the time is inexplicable.  Getting me home was a tremendous effort by family friends and they got me there as quick as possible.

I seriously don’t have words here.  I’ll show you:

(Photo by Eve Taverne)

She was Blue Eyed Murder in a Size 5 Dress.  For the uninitiated, that’s a Van Halen lyric - her favorite band - as is the title of this blog post.  Beautiful inside and out.

We shared everything from the time we were born. Clothes, a bedroom, thoughts, experiences, fun times, sad times, stories; everything down to having the same birthday.

I can’t express how bizarre it feels to me to be writing an epitaph to her right now.   Wanting to keep her memory alive, not wanting to believe it is real at the same time.   So incredibly sad I don’t ever get to see her again.

Pictures, stories and memories are all we have now.

For those of you on Facebook, a memorial page was created.

It has been a tremendously sad but also awe-inspiring experience seeing how she touched so many lives.
An art teacher at Poland Central School in Poland, NY, she was an unconventional, creative and relateable teacher that the students responded to and loved.   She worked tirelessly in the teachers union, as senior class advisor, student activity advisor (ski club, art club), was involved in the Scholastics program for art competition in the state, dance chaperone, donkey basketball teacher team member….
Her resume is better stated here.

Moving away after college brought a distance I now regret.   I wish I had more time, more hugs.   I hope she knew how special she is to me and the infinite void that has been left with her loss.

I miss our talks, though they were usually her telling me the ten thousand projects and obligations she had and my telling her that it was ok to say no sometimes and to remember to take care of herself.   I would tell my mother often that she was not happy unless she was going mach 4 with her hair on fire.  I often worried about her forgetting herself in the middle of trying to do everything for everyone.

I’m glad she didn’t listen.  It is what she loved doing and her efforts did not go unnoticed.

Her calling hours were…. astounding.    2-4pm and 6-9pm pretty much ended up being 1:30pm-almost 10:30pm straight.  We literally took 15 minutes to get some dinner, but people came from hours away and waited for two hours in line to pay respects.  Almost 900 people came through for her.  She made a big impact on a lot of people - particularly students.

The following memorial, held at PCS, was a continuation of wonderful memories and tributes.   It has been so comforting to see the outpouring for someone I always knew was so amazing.

She was my other half; my complete opposite; my compliment.  I wish I could make a fraction of the impact in my lifetime as she made during her short time on earth.   I feel truly miniscule in comparison, but so proud.

I think she would be shocked and amazed to see the response. She had a few people close to her that mattered this much to her and I doubt she realized she meant what she did to so many.

There have been two memorial funds set up in her memory.
1. PCS Art Scholarship for the student that most exemplifies Janine’s philosophy of art
2. Education fund for her daughters, Kendra and Cassondra

If you would like to donate to these funds, please send your donation (and please specify which fund) to:
James Lange
2486 State Route 5
Utica NY 13502

The funds are being put into trusts which will be well managed and safe and will either be allowing her girls to go to college or will hopefully be assistance to an art student who will continue in her footsteps.

I don’t feel there are any words sufficient to convey my feelings or will do her justice.

I love her, I miss her.   I can’t wait to see her again.