Memories of Jeannette

MEMORIES OF JEANNETTE EILEEN ROCHA HANRAHAN

Last night was very sad again for me.  I was looking at old photos of Jeannette and remembering the times we shared together.  The picture that made me cry so much was the picture of her in her prom dress.  I remember going with her to Fashion Fair looking for her dress.  She couldn’t find one there so she asked me to take her to Manchester mall.  We walked into a fancy dress shop and she giggled immediately when she found the dress she had in mind.  It was pink with a metallic color .  It was tea length and had a little flair at the bottom.  The price was way over the top and I didn’t have enough to buy it for her.  She told me, “Ma, call dad and ask him if he can help.”  I called her dad and he flat out said no way.  Then my claws came out and I argued with him about how important the dress was to her and how she got good grades and how he spends money on his girlfriends, etc.  I even cussed and yelled and then I gave the phone to Jeannette.  She smiled and then hung up.  She said her dad agreed to buy it for her.  We hugged each other and she said, “Ma, thanks a lot, you worked it, Ma.”  We went and bought her some elbow length gloves and she picked out a cute hair pin and then we went and got her shoes.  She was so happy and then we went thru the drive thru at Jack-in-the-Box and ate a big juicy burger, fries and a strawberry milkshake.  When we arrived home she ran to the phone (cell-phones were not invented) and began to call all her friends to tell them she got her dress.  The night of the prom was so exciting.  She looked absolutely beautiful.

Best Friends Forever and Ever

Jeannette and Christina

Jeannette and Tina were the best of friends.  They talked often on the phone since they lived miles and miles apart.  It was in 1983 that they met for the first time.  They were little girls back then.  It was friendship at first sight.  They began to play and laugh and had so much fun back then.  Life takes many turns but they always kept in touch.  In this picture, they are in Vegas having a girls night out.  I remember that she called me when she went back home to Thousand Oaks and Tina had gone back to Fresno.  She told me she loved hanging out with Tina and catching up on their lives.  During Jeannette's illness Tina made several trips to see her.  I am grateful to Tina for giving Jeannette complete support and most of all for showing her how much she cared for her.  I wish good health and happiness to Tina always.  Jeannette told me during her last days that she knew she would see Tina again in Heaven and they would continue to be best friends forever and ever. 

She Loved Shopping with Her LoLo

It was during the month of May, 2009 that she called me and told me the doctor said her time is getting closer to leaving this earth.  She had months to live.  Take a good look at this picture.  Do you see any hint of the monster cancer that is taking over her body.  Do you see tears or sadness here.  No, you are seeing a beautiful young mother with her child shopping.  She loved her Loreal more than life itself.  On the morning of this trip to Macy's, she took double dosage of her pain medications.  It was very important for her to help LoLo pick out clothes.  Only the finest would do for her Lolo.  I watched in amazement as Jeannette walked with all her dignity and charm around the store carefully picking out clothes for LoLo to try on.  Loreal is blessed to have had such a loving and caring mother.  I know that nobody can ever take her place.  Jeannette was unique and an example for all mothers to be.  She kept all her pain inside and smiled on the outside.  What an awesome mother.  I felt scared for her all the time i was around her.  When we were alone she would cry to me and tell me how painful it was to have to leave her children behind.  I am crying right now because I miss her so much and one day I will be with my mija.  My Nettle Poodle.

She said she cherished the time spent with Sarah and Baby.

She always talked to me about Sarah and her baby.  Sarah had been her co-worker at the base where she worked.  She told me that she took Sarah under her wing and treated her as if she were her little sister.  She was always concerned about her.  When Sarah married and moved away it did not stop Jeannette from being in her life.  They talked often on the phone.  During one of the times I was there with her she received a phone call from Sarah.  Jeannette's eyes opened up and I saw a smile on her face for the first time that rainy day.  We were in her SUV in the parking lot of a store.  She stayed on the phone with Sarah for at least 45 minutes begging her to please come down to see her.  She said, " Please come down at least for a week."  When she hung up I asked her who she was talking to.  She wiped tears from her eyes and said, "Mom, it was Sarah and I hope she does come to see me." "I don't have much time left and I want to see the baby too."  About two weeks later Sarah did come down to visit Jeannette and did stay for a week with her.  Months later during her last days of life she talked about how she cared so much for her friends and she mentioned each one of them.  Sarah was on her list.  I will forever be grateful to Sarah and all the support she gave to Jeannette.  God Bless You Sarah.

She Was Too Young To Die

My Pretty Daughter

She lost her hair right after  the chemo medications entered her young and youthful body.  Her hair was her pride and joy.  She had been blessed with beautiful thick dark brown hair.  During one weekend that I was with her she decided to visit a wig store.  She tried on several ones and finally chose a couple she liked.  It was a difficult time seeing her cry for her lost hair.  The doctor told her that as soon as the chemotherapy was done, her hair would grow back.  Jeannette wore this wig for a while and would never take it off until it was time for bed.  She told me that she always wanted to look as normal as possible for her children.  Her children were always on her mind.  She loved them so much. 

Diana and her girls, Bianca and Ashlee, they miss her so much.

Here in Fresno, Bianca was graduating from 8th grade but it was bitter sweet since her auntie, Jeannette could not be there to celebrate with her.  Diana and Jeannette were very close and naturally Bianca and Ashlee were attached to their auntie.  During June of 2009, Ashlee stayed with her auntie for a week. She helped around the house and made sure to help the boys with their homework.  She loved her auntie.  When I drove down to see her and then bring back Ashlee to Fresno, Jeannette told me this.  "Mom, I want you to drive me and Ashlee to the mall."  I asked her why.  She said, " I want to buy her clothes for when school starts, after all, she will be a senior and she has to look nice."  I told her she would be fine but she insisted so I did take her to the mall.  Ashlee picked out several outfits and then Jeannette picked out her accessories to match and then she bought her shoes too.  When we arrived home, Ashlee modeled for us.  Jeannette had the biggest smile on her face.  It is 2011 now.  Two years have passed since Jeannette died.  Ashlee still talks about her auntie.  She chose to follow in her footsteps and has entered college now and is working.  I give thanks to God for giving me a loving and good daughter. 

Conner and his Mommy

During one of several trips I made to see her she told me that Conner was not feeling well.  She said he stayed home from school.  I checked in on Conner.  He wasn't running a fever.  His tummy didn't ache.  I asked him what was hurting him.  He said, "I want my mommy."  I told Jeannette that Conner just wanted to stay home with her.  She immediately managed to get out of bed, got dressed and asked me to driver her to the local mall.  She wanted to spend quality time with Conner.  I knew she wasn't feeling well just by looking at her and how she walked hunched over and holding on to her breast area.  She had taken her dosage of dilatin and told me she would be o.k.  Conner was excited to go and was talking a mile a minute.  She bought him some bears and then we had lunch.  She hugged him and kissed him every chance she could.  When we arrived home, he got the remote control to his video game and started playing.  Jeannette went over to sit next to him and she kept kissing him as if it were her last time to see him.  I had tears as I took this pic of them.  I truly hope and pray that one day he will know how much his mommy loved him.