Mom's Obituary

Name: Mrs. Suzanne Stutzman, 62

Died: January 27, 2008, in her home, Omaha, Nebraska

In Memory of Suzanne Stutzman

Suzanne was born on September 29, 1946 in Milford, Nebraska to Roman Sr. and Edith Jantzi. Suzanne was the fourth of four children, their only girl.

Suzanne attended Milford grade school and high school. She was a cheerleader, majorette, homecoming attendant, class treasurer, class vice president, and a member of the drill team, pep club, Future Homemakers of America, mixed chorus, madrigal, triple trio, student council, drama club, etc. She was crowned "Centennial Queen" of Milford in the summer of 1964.

Suzanne met the love of her life, Les Stutzman, while in high school and married him on October 10, 1964. The first few years of marriage, Les and Suzanne lived in Milford before moving to Portland, Oregon where they lived for 2 years. They moved back to Omaha where their first daughter, Rhonda, was born. Shortly after, they moved to Albany, Oregon where their second daughter, Tonya, was born.

Suzanne spent many years of her life as a stay at home mom, a bank teller, personal banker, and investments assistant. Suzanne and Les moved from Albany, Oregon to Phoenix, Arizona in 1986, then to Omaha, Nebraska in 1995. Suzanne was able to go "truckin" with Les for just over a year after moving to Omaha which she enjoyed a lot. In 1999 her first grandchild was born with six others to follow. Her grandchildren, Cam, Shawn, Jake, Kayla, Brooke, MaKenna and Major were the joy of her life and the focus of her attention. Her passions included God, family, shopping, traveling and camping "luxury" style.

Suzanne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She spent the remainder of her 5 ½ years creating wonderful memories for her, her daughters and her grandchildren! Suzanne fought a courageous battle before passing away in her home on January 27, 2009 with her husband and two daughters by her side. She was 62 years, 3 months and 29 days old.

Suzanne is survived by her husband, Les Stutzman, Omaha; her daughters and son-in-laws, Rhonda and Mike Flanigan, Omaha; Tonya and Jeff Filleman, Omaha; her grandchildren Cam, Shawn, Jake, Kayla, Brooke, MaKenna and Major, Omaha; brothers and sister-in-laws Ron and Linda Jantzi, Salem, Oregon; Dick and Karen Jantzi, Fairmont, Nebraska; and sister-in law Ruth Jantzi, Fairmont, Nebraska.

Suzanne is preceded in death by her parents Roman Jantzi Sr. and Edith Jantzi; brother Roman Jantzi, Jr.; and sister-in-law Julie Jantzi.

The funeral service will be held at Brookside Church at 11607 M Circle in Omaha on Monday, February 2 at 10:30 am with Pastor Tim Wiebe officiating. Interment in Blue Mound Cemetery, Milford at 3:00 pm. Memorials may be directed to Methodist Hospital Foundation/Estabrook Cancer Center at 8303 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, in memory of Suzanne Stutzman.

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Mom is with the Lord...

Post from my mom's care page:

Tuesday...Mom is with our Lord

My eyes are burning, my head is pounding, my heart is breaking. This is what it is like for those left behind. Mom went to be with the Lord today. Last night, she had a lot of difficulty breathing. Dad kept her well medicated though, so she slept without agitation. To us she seemed to have difficulty breathing, but to her...maybe not. It is hard to say...I guess we will never know. This morning she was still having labored breathing, but her hands and feet were still warm...so I went to Bible Study anyway. Rhonda stayed here with dad and worked from here. Uncle Ron and Linda were here also. I called from Bible Study, and Rhonda told me that her breathing was getting more and more labored. I made it back to the house around 1pm. I ate a little lunch and went back to see mom. Her breathing was in Cheyne Stokes...which means she didn't take a breath but ever so often. Her nail beds were also turning blue. It was about 2pm. I got Rhonda and Dad and we all went and sat with her. Uncle Ron and Linda had to catch a flight, so they said their goodbyes. We sat with mom, we sang songs with her,dad recited Psalm 23 and started the Lords Prayer, which Rhonda finished. We all told her how much we loved her and that we would all be okay. We reminded her of what was to come...the streets of gold, grandma, grandpa, her brother and her nephew among many others that she was going to meet in Heaven. We told her we were going to miss her terribly but that in a blink of an eye, we would all be together again. We all gave her kisses and a tear dropped out of one of her eyes. Soon her breaths got fewer and further between. With Rhonda on one side holding her hand, Dad on the other side holding her other hand and me also by her side rubbing her arm, momma took her last breath and went to be with the Lord at approximately 2:30pm. We continued to sit by her side and cry for another 15 minutes or so before we called anyone. We called Uncle Ron at the airport first. Then we called Hospice. Next Pastor Tim. Hospice came out and confirmed that her soul was gone. They then called out the sheriff. In Sarpy County, they make the Sheriff come out and investigate...not fully...they just ask a few questions of the Hospice nurse and check out the deceased. Luckily they didn't have to have any contact with us because we weren't too thrilled that the police had to come out. Sarpy County is heartless in making people go through that. Anyway, the police determined that there was no foul play (gee...ya think?), and the nurse then called the Mortuary. Jeff came over and sat with us for awhile with mom in her room, then he went to get the kids. The nurse was very nice...she came and sat with us for a long time while we waited for the Mortuary to come. She asked questions about mom and our family...she was very sweet. I started getting light headed and sick to my stomach, so I decided not to be here when they came. I prefered not to see them take my momma away. So I went home. Jeff and I told the kids, and Rhonda also went home and her and Mike told her kids. Some of the kids took it pretty good...others didn't do near as well. The three youngest ones had no idea what was going on. They just are too young to get it. Dad called us as soon as the Mortuary left, and we all met back over here for Pizza. Pizza that was provided by Vera Gustafson. HAND MADE! Very yummy! Thank you SO much Vera! We truly appreciate it. Pastor Tim also came by to talk with us, pray with us, answer questions about death and eternity, and also talk with us about funeral arraingments. TENTATIVELY we are thinking the services will be Monday the 2nd of February at 10:30 here in Omaha with a luncheon to follow...then we will go to Milford for burial and a service at 3 pm with a small meal following at 4. This is not set in stone yet. We are waiting to hear back to make sure that this date and these times work for everyone involved. We will let you know when we know for sure. It was wonderful that Rhonda and dad and I were able to be here with her...but it was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. I know she is in a better place, but it doesn't stop the hurt. God did not have a miracle in store for my mom, but as Jesus prayed, it is God's will, not ours. Mom had 62 great years. Though I believe that she should have had at least 30 years more, that was not God's will and we need to accept that. But I am ever so grateful for the 33 years of my life that God allowed me to have with her, and I am sure that dad and Rhonda concur. As we prepare for her Memorial Services...does anybody have any great, cute, touching stories about mom that they would like to share? We would sure like to hear them! Thanks! With love to all of you...thank you so much for your thoughts, your prayers, your support.

Cold

It's cold again...brrrrr......

Just plum tuckered out......

Husband and Wife

Well...Cam sold his gameboy on Ebay for $41. He was thrilled. We posted it at $20...and I told him not to get his hopes up. Gamers were only offering him $18! Anyway, they were in the truck the other night with daddy coming home from hockey practice. Cam and Jake were in the back talking about what Cam was going to buy. He said he wanted a Guniea Pig. Jake said he wanted one too. Cam said he wanted a boy...Jake said he wanted a girl and Cam's boy and his girl could get married! Isn't that sweet? First of all...no he is not getting a Guniea Pig. Secondly, Cam has no idea how to save money...no matter how hard we try...the kid just can't save money. Now...Jake on the other hand is a fantastic saver of money...so even though Cam is the one with the gameboy cash...Jake actually probably has more so could afford a girl Guniea Pig to get along with Cam's boy Guinea Pig. Anyway, Cam says, "No...you can't get a girl to marry my boy because yours would yell at mine all the time and tell him what to do!"

WHAT???????????

Where do these kids get this stuff????? :-)

Mom

The hospice nurse was out today, she said it is only a matter of time. She thought this weekend and possibly before. Please keep her in your prayers as well as the family. We knew it was coming...but it certainly doesn't make it any easier.

Some comic relief

As a trucker stops for a red light, a blonde catches up. She jumps out of her car, runs up to his truck, and knocks On the door. The trucker lowers the window, and she says "Hi, myName is Heather and you are losing some of your load."

The trucker ignores her and proceeds down the street. When the truck stops for another red light, the girl catches up again. She jumps out of her car, runs up and knocks on the door. Again, the trucker lowers the window. As if they've never spoken, the blonde says brightly, "Hi my name is Heather, and you are losing some of your load!"

Shaking his head, the trucker ignores her again and continues down the street. At the third red light, the same thing happens again. All out of breath, the blonde gets out of her car, runs up, knocks on the truck door. The trucker rolls down the window. Again she says "Hi, my name is Heather, and you are losing some of your load!"

When the light turns green the trucker revs up and races to the next light. When he stops this time, he hurriedly gets out of the truck, and runs back to the blonde. He knocks on her window, and after she lowers it, he says... "Hi, my name is Mark, it's winter in Minnesota and I'm driving the SALT TRUCK!"

Rick Warren

A friend of mine sent this to me and I thought it was so good, I needed to pass it on.

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren,'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.. God wants us to practi ce on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth.. I don't believe that anymore.Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,'which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases. Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.Fourth , I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.

Painful moments, TRUST GOD.

Every moment, THANK GOD.

Mom

Thank you to all of you who have sent notes of encouragement, your prayers and thoughts, etc. I REALLY appreciate them all. Mom is comfortably resting at home. She has a lot of visitors, but that is fine...she loves it. She talks about going "home" a lot. I try to ignore it, but she won't let me. My sister Rhonda and I have been busy helping her and dad out. Our husbands have been INCREDIBLE in helping with the kids...and so many of our friends and family have been incredible as well. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU...we could never thank you enough. Just know how very thankful I am for all that you do, even if I forget to say it. Sometimes I am in such a hurry or my head isn't in its right state that I may forget, but I SO appreciate all you do. I can't imagine what this must be like for someone who doesn't have family and/or friends. How must they handle it? I guess we need to pray for those people who don't have support when their loved ones are in hospice. I am updating mom's carepage a bit more frequently, if you click the link to the left that says, Suzanne Stutzman Carepage...it should take you right to it.

Tonight we did have Cam's 10th birthday party at mom's house. It was nice. We opened presents in her room so she could see...then we cut the pies and brought a bite of each pie to mom to try. His birthday isn't until the 26th, but this was the only night we had open...hockey is in full swing with weekend tournaments right now. In fact, Jeff, Jake, Mike, Kayla and Shawn were up in Sioux City today for a Mites tournament. Next weekend Jeff and Cam will be in Des Moines. Tis' that time of year.

MaKenna

I posted this on my mom's carepage...so sorry if you are having to read it again. Last night during her bedtime prayers MaKenna said, "Please get Nana better. Please don't let Nana die. Because I will miss her." Ohhhhhh...it absolutely broke my heart. :-( Such a sweet little girl. They all have been praying for miraculous healing for mom.

She is home now...in fact I am typing this at mom's house while she is visiting with some friends that came down from Valentine. The move from the hospital to home really made her be in a lot of pain and really tired her out. Hopefully she can get some good rest tonight and she will feel better tomorrow.

Quote

This quote came from my sister in law Holly. Thanks Holl-Doll...I love you too!!!

"Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion.
Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God."
-- Mary Manin Morrissey

Darn right cold!

As if there isn't enough going on right now in our lives...it is HORRIBLY cold. It is AWFUL! When I took the boys to school this morning I was listening to a radio station that actually transmits one of our local tv stations. The weather man was on....I took the boys at 8:30...it was 2 below zero (actual temperate), but the windchill was 35 below zero!!! He said that all day it would be that way!! UGH!!! My nostrils actually froze together when I went outside!!!! I have isicles in my nose now...and I am INSIDE!!!!

Hospice

Hi all. Mom has decided to do Hospice care at her house. So Jeff, my brother in law and dad will move the furniture out of the spare room (it has a nice big window) tonight, then tomorrow Hospice will come out and put in the hospital bed and other things that are needed. Then Friday they will transport her via ambulance from the hospital to home. So...she'll be home Friday.

Bad news

Mom's cancer is all over now...even in her heart. The doctor gave her 1-3 months. Hospice will be out tomorrow to talk about her options. Please visit her carepage (Suzanne Stutzman)...the link is to the left. I wrote more info on there. Just please be in prayer...I don't know for what...but please be in prayer. I may have fooled you all...you probably all thing I am a strong girl...but I am just a softie on the inside. I am having a very difficult time with this.

LOL

I COMPLETELY busted a gut watching this. With all of the sadness in my life right now, I needed this! Watch it...turn up your speakers...give it a bit too...you don't hear it right away. Here is the link...enjoy!

http://videos.komando.com/2008/06/04/mans-surprising-laugh/

Vote for a friend....

This is from a very close friend of mine...vote if you feel so inclined!

Hello friends,

The review site that I write for us up for a 'Preditors & Editors' award. It's based on online votes submitted. We've learned that other sites are soliciting votes and we've still held out at #12. We're hoping to finish in the top 10 so there is where I'm asking for your help. If you click this link:http://www.critters.org/predpoll/reviewsite.shtmlThere is an alphabetical list of the review sites up for the award. Please click on Once Upon A Romance.net and fill out your name/email at the bottom.You will NOT be added to mailing lists, but you will receive one confirmation email (check your spam folder) from the site. You have to click the link provided in that email to validate your vote. Limit one vote per email address. If you would be willing to go vote for us, it would be a big help. Voting closes Wed. Jan. 14 so vote soon!!!

Thank you!
Robyn

My Mamma

Hi all. My mom is having trouble with her cancer. If you want to follow her progress just go to her carepages that I have listed to the left of the page. She is having a hard time right now though and I am very worried. She is practically bed ridden. Dad has to help her get to and from the bathroom, he has to help bathe her and he gets her meds for her. She is on countless mg's of pain meds, and they make her itch, so she is also taking Benadryl...between the pain meds and the Benadryl she is exhausted ALL the time. She is also now on constant Oxygen. I was over there this evening and I helped her to the bathroom. We took her O2 off and she was SO winded by the time she was done using the bathroom, you would have thought she ran a marathon. The doctor moved her CT scan up to this Monday. Please pray for her. Prayers are VERY appreciated.

29 laughable lines

I got this e-mail from a friend of mine today. I thought it was very cute and worthy of passing on in my blog.

Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light!

TWENTY NINE LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE

1.. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't.

2.. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

3.. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

4.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

5.. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

6.. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me

7.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

8.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

9.. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.

10... Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

11.. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.

12.. God must love stupid people; He made so many.

13.. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

14.. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

15.. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

16.. Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!

17.. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.

18 . Procrastinate Now!

19.. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?

20.. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

21.. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

22.. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

23..They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.

24.. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.

25.. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.

26.. Ham and eggs...A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

27.. The trouble with life is there's no background music.

28.. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.

29.. I smile because I don't know what the hell is going on.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

Life is too short and friends are too few!

Hmm..

I saw this in my son's "take home folder" the other day and thought that it was an extremely good quote and I had to share...

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have." -Author Unknown

2009!

We are currently in the midst of our first 2009 ice storm...well...it isn't really a storm I guess...it is just REALLY icy! The roads are TERRIBLE...it is like an ice rink out there. Everything is just covered in ice. Makes it fun though to sit in front of the fireplace and snack while watching movies as a family. Why am I on the computer then you ask? Well...they are currently play Wii, and/or napping...so the snacking and watching a family movie will come later this evening! We had hockey games today, so we are all just relaxing! School starts this Monday! Woo hoo! I am happy that they will be back at school...but at the same time, sad because I can't sleep in anymore...AND because I get used to having the little rascals around! :-)

I have started a new habit for 2009! I started doing it around Christmas time so that it would be a habit by 2009 and I think I finally got it. I went out two days before Christmas and it was UNBELIEVABLE how RUDE people were. I know...everyone but me probably knew that people are rude around Christmas time...but I happen to like living in my bubble. Anyway, instead of getting mad though...which I REALLY would have liked to, I said...OUTLOUD, "JESUS LOVES YOU...JESUS LOVES YOU...JESUS LOVES YOU!" I YELLED it if we were in the car, and whispered it under my clenched teeth when in a store. I found that it REALLY helped me! It lowered my blood pressure and made me smile! I realized that not only did I need it...but they probably did too...even if they didn't know I was saying it. The first time I did that with Jake in the truck with me he said, "Mom...what are you doing?" I explained it to him, and he thought I was weird...but I overheard him say it one time! It is just a good reminder that...though some people may be incredibly insensitive, rude and stupid...Jesus STILL loves them...so I suppose I should too! :-)

My sister in law had a baby yesterday! I have a new little nephew! That is nephew number 3! One from my sister, and two from my sister in law. It is Jeff's brother Danny's wife Caitlin. She had her second boy yesterday! He was 7 pounds 6 ounces I believe and 20 1/2 inches long. I don't have any other info...Jeff doesn't get details for me. Guys don't understand. I know his name is Cade Daniel...but I am not sure if it is Cade...or Kade. Anyway...no pictures yet! Soon!

Gotta go sell more stuff on E-Bay...I have become addicted...never thought it would happen....is there an E-Bay Anonymous????