In many people, their strength can unintentionally push aside their gentleness and compassion. In others, their empathy and willingness to help can lead to being dominated. Jill's life experience and spirit empowered her to keep these two aspects in balance, though she'd never give herself such a compliment. Jill was outrageously smart. As a younger brother following her through school, the praise of her and expectations of me were intimidating. She dabbled in a handful of academic majors which made her shy - thinking this was a sign of indecisiveness when in reality, it was an illustration of the many talents and interests contained in her soul. Her kindness and gentleness is a trait that every single person in her life agreed she possessed. This permeated her career as a dental hygienist, in her personal life of family and friends, and her involvement in her church. Despite the institutional church letting her down time and time again, her faith in God remained intensely strong. To Jill, faith without service to others was no religion at all. Her outlook on life was positive even though she endured a number of life situations that would have made a strong spirit wilt. Jill endured an unhealthy first marriage with profound grace - balancing loyalty and commitment with realism and honor. She buried a second husband who died of cancer less than a year of marriage and the painful aftermath of such tragedy. After finding love again, she won her own battle with cancer causing everyone around her to wonder in awe - "how does she do it?" In February 2011, after a day of cross country skiing, Jill experienced flu like symptoms that foreshadowed the real illness - spinal meningitis. She died within 24 hours of being takent to the hospital.