I logged on to Facebook on Monday morning June 25th to see what was going on. I was STUNNED to see a post from my friend Glenn that his 24 year old daughter Jill passed away. Glenn and I traveled to seminary almost every single day together in a carpool for three years. During that same time his daughter Jill was a part of my youth group at Bausman UCC and active in Youth Committee events at Mensch Mill. Their family was close to my heart. I sat at my computer and just cried for hours. I wanted to ask so many questions but I didn't know how. In the next few days I received lots of emails and notifications from various sources about her passing but they were all so vague.
As it turns out, Jill had pneumonia and simply took a nap, never to wake up. The autopsy was inconclusive and no one really knows what happened. Rev. Galen Russell presented a beautiful ceremony about her willing spirit, which was so perfect. Jill was always willing to serve, help, volunteer, in any way possible. The spirit is willing... but the flesh is weak.
As it was a Friday morning I had no choice but to take the kids with me. It was a 2.5 hour drive each way. The kids rocked the whole thing. I was very proud of them. During the funeral Noah went to the bathroom and brought me a giant wad of toilet paper in case I needed tissues. Afterward I asked if they wanted to leave or go to the graveside service. They wanted to stay. After graveside I asked if they wanted to stop on the way for lunch or go to the luncheon and they wanted to stay longer. Noah even had an offer to go to a waterpark instead of coming with me but he thought it was better to go to the funeral. I was grateful because they give great hugs.
We never know God's plan but I just hope and pray that Jill has found her eternal Mensch Mill....
Jill P. Rice, 24, of Mohawk Drive, Bethlehem, E. Allen Twp. died suddenly, Saturday afternoon, June 23, 2012, in her home.
Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the Rev. Glenn S. and Susan M. (Wawrzyniak) Rice, with whom she resided.
Jill worked as a Senior Supervisor for Kaman's Art Shoppes, Inc. at Dorney Park & Wild Water Kingdom, Allentown. She was a member of Zion's Stone United Church of Christ, Kreidersville.
Jill attended Antietam High School, Mount Penn, Berks County, and was a 2005 graduate of Governor Mifflin High School, Shil-lington. She graduated from Moravian College in 2010 with a Bachelors in Arts Degree. She loved art and photography. Jill loved her past years attending PSEC UCC Camp Mensch Mill, Huffs Church, Berks County.
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