Epilogue

Recall that when we left Raleigh, it was freezing and only crocus had shown its head. I returned to work on Monday, March 14. When I returned home that evening I noticed these daffodils, a harbinger of the awesome spring that was to follow. Alas, I could not enjoy all of it with my beloved Jan.

On March 17, we visited Jan's doctor to discuss clinical trial treatments and learned that her liver was being choked off by the cancer. A series of endoscopic procedures were unhelpful, and we were referred to Hospice of Wake County.

I was granted leave of absence, and we savored our remaining time. We made it a point to run errands together while Jan had the strength, going out for light bulbs, then returning home to rest, then going for a short walk, or to get groceries. We entertained relatives while Jan had the strength and reasoning to do so.

But we couldn't postpone the inevitable. Jan became housebound, then bedridden. Early on the morning of April 21, I awakened for no reason from a sound sleep by her side and watched her draw her last breaths.

My grief is lessened only by the thought that I was able to make her last days happier by taking her on this cruise. I cannot decide whether the happiest days of our lives were the honeymoon at the beginning of our marriage or the Caribbean cruise at the end of it.

I'm inclined to pick the Caribbean cruise, which was truly The Cruise of a Lifetime.

This obituary photo and text appeared in the newspaper.

Printed image Text

Janet M. "Jan" Marks
RALEIGH - Janet M. "Jan" Marks, 57, of 4901 North Hills Drive, passed away Thursday April 21, 2005.
She was born in Shellbyville, Illinois to Naomi Milner Price and the late Maurice Price. She got an early grounding in business practices while attending Sparks Business College during summer breaks. She graduated from Illinois State University and did graduate work at New Mexico State University. She always considered the most important events of her youth to include riding an elephant bareback at age 11, and petting a black panther at age 19.
Jan's hobbies included sculpture, painting, leathercraft, original needlepoint designs, and most of all sewing, a skill she learned as a youth and practiced most of her life.
Although accredited as a teacher, Jan chose to dedicate her life to service. She served as a tutor to hospital/homebound students, often straying from assigned subject matter to counsel them on their illnesses and mortality. She served as chairman of the B'nai Israel religious school in Rochester, Minnesota, where she introduced a new curriculum which re-ignited student interest. She also re-invigorated a defunct Hadassah organization, recruiting members and officers and putting it on a sound footing. Later, in Raleigh, Jan similarly reorganized a waning Temple Beth Or Sisterhood, by recruiting members and officers and identifying new purposes and goals. Jan was an active volunteer in the Wake County public schools for many years--first at Conn Elementary, then Ligon Middle School, and ultimately at Enloe High School. Jan's service in the Enloe guidance office was so valued that she was asked to increase her hours to near full time, and was considered for a staff position. Jan was involved each year in Cub Scout Day Camp--long after her sons had graduated and married--and developed a coterie of devoted young Cub Scouts. She received the Boy Scouts of America District Award of Merit. In recent years she volunteered at the Raleigh-Cary Jewish Federation where she once again became a valued part of the staff and was asked to work near full time. Her devoted friends there provided great comfort during her illness.
Jan is survived by her husband Laurence "Larry" Marks, mother Naomi Price, brother Joseph Price and wife Carole Price, sister Judith Brown and husband Jim Brown, and sons L. Victor Marks and wife Shirley Marks, and Daniel Marks and wife Rachel Marks.
A memorial service will be held Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM at Temple Beth Or, 5315 Creedmoor Road, followed by a graveside ceremony at Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery.
There will be a minyan held at 7:00 PM on Monday, April 25, 2005 at the home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Occoneechee Council Boy Scouts of America, Raleigh-Cary Jewish Federation, or Temple Beth Or.

Printed image	Text
	Janet M. "Jan" Marks RALEIGH - Janet M. "Jan" Marks, 57, of 4901 North Hills Drive, passed away Thursday April 21, 2005. She was born in Shellbyville, Illinois to Naomi Milner Price and the late Maurice Price. She got an early grounding in business practices while attending Sparks Business College during summer breaks. She graduated from Illinois State University and did graduate work at New Mexico State University. She always considered the most important events of her youth to include riding an elephant bareback at age 11, and petting a black panther at age 19. Jan's hobbies included sculpture, painting, leathercraft, original needlepoint designs, and most of all sewing, a skill she learned as a youth and practiced most of her life. Although accredited as a teacher, Jan chose to dedicate her life to service. She served as a tutor to hospital/homebound students, often straying from assigned subject matter to counsel them on their illnesses and mortality. She served as chairman of the B'nai Israel religious school in Rochester, Minnesota, where she introduced a new curriculum which re-ignited student interest. She also re-invigorated a defunct Hadassah organization, recruiting members and officers and putting it on a sound footing. Later, in Raleigh, Jan similarly reorganized a waning Temple Beth Or Sisterhood, by recruiting members and officers and identifying new purposes and goals. Jan was an active volunteer in the Wake County public schools for many years--first at Conn Elementary, then Ligon Middle School, and ultimately at Enloe High School. Jan's service in the Enloe guidance office was so valued that she was asked to increase her hours to near full time, and was considered for a staff position. Jan was involved each year in Cub Scout Day Camp--long after her sons had graduated and married--and developed a coterie of devoted young Cub Scouts. She received the Boy Scouts of America District Award of Merit. In recent years she volunteered at the Raleigh-Cary Jewish Federation where she once again became a valued part of the staff and was asked to work near full time. Her devoted friends there provided great comfort during her illness. Jan is survived by her husband Laurence "Larry" Marks, mother Naomi Price, brother Joseph Price and wife Carole Price, sister Judith Brown and husband Jim Brown, and sons L. Victor Marks and wife Shirley Marks, and Daniel Marks and wife Rachel Marks. A memorial service will be held Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM at Temple Beth Or, 5315 Creedmoor Road, followed by a graveside ceremony at Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery. There will be a minyan held at 7:00 PM on Monday, April 25, 2005 at the home. Memorial contributions may be made to Occoneechee Council Boy Scouts of America, Raleigh-Cary Jewish Federation, or Temple Beth Or.

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