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Jane Ann Ginter-Candelora
Age 49, Lingan Road, Sydney

It is with great sadness that we, the family of Jane Ann Ginter-Candelora announce her passing Sunday, July 29, 2007, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in New Waterford, Oct. 11, 1957, she was the daughter of the late Cecil and Genevieve (Kendall) Ginter.

She is survived by her devoted husband, James Candelora; stepson, Lee, stepdaughter, Lindsey; godson, Dougie, goddaughter, Julia; brother, Cecil (Helen), Alberta; sister, Donna (Eli) Collins, Halifax; and nieces and nephews, Cecil, Kenneth, Michael, Theresa, Jen and Jonathan. She is also survived by her 'canine children', Kismet and Sasha.

Jane Ann had two main passions, hers first was her garden, her second was her 'garden of friends'.

Jane Ann took volunteerism to new limits, being very actively involved in the Lingan Road Community Association, the Cape Breastoners Dragon Boat Team, the Whitney Pier Garden Club, the Holy Redeemer Service Committee, the British Car Club and the Canadian Cancer Society.

Jane Ann was a truly amazing person and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her.

Visitation took place on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 from 7-9 p.m. and on Wednesday, August 1 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel. A funeral mass was celebrated Thursday, Aug. 2 at 11 a.m. in Holy Redeemer Church with Rev. Errol MacDonald officiating. Interment will be at a later date following cremation.

" True beauty is facing life's challenges with courage and grace. True beauty is having a strong, fighting spirit that never gives up and never gives in. True beauty is being an inspiration to others just by the way you choose to live each day. "

REMEMBERING YOU

We thought of you today
But that is nothing new
We thought of you yesterday
And will tomorrow; too
We think of you in silence
And make no outward show
For what it meant to lose you
Only those who love you know
Remembering you is easy
We do it everyday
It's the heartache of losing you
That will never go away

Biography

Jane Ann Ginter-Candelora was born to Cecil and Jennie Ginter on October 11, 1957. This beautiful little girl was a sister for Donna and Cecil, the third child for Cecil and Jenny. From an early age everyone knew Jane Ann was an angel. Jane Ann was the heart of the Ginter family, always smiling and full of life. She was the sparkle in her Uncle Albert's eye.

Jane Ann started school at Central School at the age of four years, and then transferred to St. Agnes School in grade three to be with her neighborhood friend. It was there that her life long friendship with Linda MacEachern began. Jane Ann and Linda then attended Breton Education Centre where they graduated in 1975, with their new friend Pauline Boudreau. Pauline moved to British Columbia, but Jane Ann and Linda stayed in New Waterford and remained friends and shared many good times and made a life time of memories. Jane Ann worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia in New Waterford.

Jane Ann then met and married the love of her life James Candelora and moved to Lingan Rd, Sydney. Jane Ann and Jimmy spent many hours in their garden, and entertained their large circle of friends. When Jane Ann and Jimmy were not entertaining they were sharing the passion for traveling.

Jane Ann was truly a passionate person and she showed that everyday as she volunteered with numerous groups, and gave 120% whenever she volunteered her time to the Lingan Road Community Association, The Whitney Pier Garden Club, The Holy Redeemer Service Committee, The Cape Breasteners Dragon Boat Association, The British Car Club, and the Canadian Cancer Society.

Jane Ann's Journey:

The family and friends of Jane Ann Ginter Candelora would like to take you back in time and let you have the privledge of knowing what a beautiful, strong and courageous young lady Jane Ann was. Her divine strength will encourage you to live everyday as though it were your last. Jane Ann would want everyone to take control over their bodies and to pay close attention to even the smallest of details. We know when something is wrong, so pursue it and fight for your right to live.

In the dictionary, cancer can be defined as a disease which occurs when the body's cells divide without control. It may invade nearby tissues, may travel through the bloodstream and lymphatic system and other parts of the body. To us, it is a devastating illness which is taking away our loved ones. It is important for us not to give up hope or the fight. We are stronger together than apart.

In August 2002, Jane Ann had a mammogram and the results were suspicious. An ultrasound pursued and this too showed suspicious. A core biopsy followed and the results were negative. This proved to be a false negative. The lump forming in Jane Ann's breast was completly missed. She was having severe pain and was told to take Ibuprophen until she could be seen by a specialist. In March 2003, Jane Ann was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In the year to follow, Janeann would go through procedure after procedure with the most brave and positive attitude. She had a partial mastectomy with auxiliary lymph node dissection. Radiation and chemotherapy followed. She lost her hair and felt very nauseous all of the time. She lost all of her fingernails and a severe infection formed in her toe. This hindered her therapy due to the infection. The treatment caused numbness and tingling of the extremities, swelling, muscle pain, gastro intestinal distress. A lot of sessions were canceled due to low blood counts and fevers. Throughout this process, Jane Ann was very aware of what was happening to her body. She read books, and did research on the internet. Cancer was not getting the best of her. Life was for the living and she was alive!

In March 2004, Jane Ann had re constructive surgery on her breasts. The cancer at this point was only in one breast but she decided to be proactive and have both breasts removed. Her doctors were very pleased with her recovery and how far she had come. She was still having pain but was informed that it was more than likely arthritis. An ultrasound on her liver and kidney shows okay. Arm pain would be normal. Jane Ann became involved with the Cape Breastoners which proved to be very healing for her spirit. She motivated others by her involvement in the Relay for Life and The Run for the Cure. She battled every event and crossed every finish line.

In January 2005, Jane Ann was instructed to go for blood work and for an ultrasound the next month. Some spots showed up on her lungs. Her doctor talked to her about treatment versus Quality of Life but Jane Ann wasn't giving up just yet. She checked in to the hospital once again for a lung biopsy. The biopsy didn't show a malignancy but emphaszema.

In 2006, Jane Ann found a lump in her neck. Another biopsy was scheduled for later in the week. This biopsy showed consistent with Breast Cancer. A reoccurence, just 28 months after finishing chemo. A bone scan and cat scan were set up to see if the cancer had spread to any other parts of the body besides the lymph nodes in her neck. The situation proved very serious but in Jane Ann's words, NOT HOPELESS.

The cancer is in the bones - spots on the shoulder, rib, couple in backbone, hip plus other smaller spots. Lymph Nodes in chest slightly enlarged and another spot on the lung. She was in severe pain almost all of the time by this point. Controlling the pain was the first priority. She was taking a bone strengthener and had to start radiation right away to help with the pain. She was advised to start seeing someone in Palliative Care. It was difficult for her to have blood work because the veins were not cooperating properly. More radiation and chemotherapy followed. Another mass showed in the breast and no improvement to her lungs. Jane Ann was put on a powerful pain killer and was told to take it as often as necessary.

Jane Ann's spirit stayed remarkably clam and she never gave up hope. She continued with more bouts of radiation and chemo. The pain got drastically worse, but she never missed a friends birthday or church.

Happiness keeps you sweet, Trials keep you strong, Sorrow keeps you human, Failure keeps you humble, Success keeps you glowing, but only God keeps you going. Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. Jane Ann's faith never faltered. She continued this fight with more intensity than was humanly possible.

In 2007, we noticed a change in Jane Ann. She was sleeping more and she was a little lethargic. This was the year that things changed in a hurry. She still underwent different sorts of therapy trying everything for the right to survive this disease that was taking over her body. Her breathing was becoming really shallow and her oxygen levels were extremely low. It was here that this strong soul was reaching out to others when she spent her whole life giving. Her determination not to give up and to shield others was so strong but she knew that she had reached the time when leaning on her friends and family was necessary. In July, a very close friend of Jane Ann's took her to the hospital for a consultation with her doctor. She went into the hospital in a wheelchair but walked into her appointment. She told them how hard it was to breathe. The doctor told her that she would require oxygen at home. It was at his appointment that she told them about three new lumps on her breast.

On July 25, 2007, Jane Ann had a cat scan done. They could not find a vein so they used an ultrasound machine, and refilled all of her medication. The doctor checked her lump under her arm and her chest and considered dong another biopsy. Jane Ann was very weak but went to her best friend's birthday party that night. Wild horses wouldn't have kept her away. The next day, a person from Vital Air came out so she could fill out some papers to have oxygen set up at home. A nurse from Palliative Care came out to assess the situation. Her oxygen levels and blood pressure were dangerously low. They called 911 and Jane Ann was asked if there was a no resuscitation order in place. The ambulance came and gave her oxygen immediately. The cat scan showed that her lungs were filled with pneumonia.

On July 27, 2007, Jane Ann went into a deep sleep. It was hard to wake her but when she did wake, she had a small bit of breakfast and lunch. The nurses had to help her with every move. The doctor came by and suggested the resuscitation order be removed. The doctor took her husband to the side and told him that the cancer had run wild through her lungs and that he situation was grim. They called in the family.

The nurses were giving her pain medication on the hour for the remainder of the day and continued it into the next day. We watched her breath and we held her hand. It was 6:30 pm when Jane Ann and her husband shared their last few moments together. Two hearts forever united in love.
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We would like to thank you for sharing Jane Ann's Journey with us. We hope you will gather strength and courage from her as all of us have. Jane Ann was a strong, positive, and caring lady and we were all so very proud of her. We know that she is at rest, and peace is with her at last.. It is her strength that we will draw from when our roads get rocky.

She is our heavenly angel...
created by God to serve him, and sent by God to watch over us, to deliver his message, and to guard and protect us from danger.

How she lived on earth, she will live in Heaven. Amen

God Bless You!
We will never forget you!