When
Mary Jane Fletcher was 55 years old, she made an appointment
to see her doctor because of some unusual symptoms she had
been experiencing - weight gain around the middle, extreme
fatigue and a feeling of just not being quite right. The
doctor passed it off as weight gain due to age. She was
told to return in six months. Six months later, in Nov.
'98, there was no question that something was wrong when
she was diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer, which
covered her abdominal cavity like splattered paint. She
underwent three major surgeries and numerous rounds of chemotherapy
but she stayed committed to getting better through it all.
A dedicated mom, Mary Jane's greatest
joy came from her husband Bill of 33 years, her three children,
Tammy, Chris and Betsy, her daughter-in-law, Jennifer, her
son-in-law, Shane, and her two granddaughters, Hope and
Sage. Her son, Chris, shares these memories: "What
I remember most about Mom is her laugh. Hearing Mom laugh
was like listening to my favorite music. It always warmed
my heart to hear that sound; it was like she was saying
I love you. And I remember her advice. When Mom gave advice,
I felt like a kid seeing the ocean for the first time."
On October 25, 2001, just before
her 58th birthday, Mary Jane passed away at home with her
family.
