Joanne Smith Duke Rest In Peace 8-18-12

z
z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
in Anal Cancer #1
I wanted to let everyone know that JDuke has passed on 8-18-12. She is the person who had CSN start the anal cancer discussion board, as there was none until then. I have posted her obituary below:

DUKE, Joanne Smith, of Tampa, passed away August 18, 2012 at home, after a heroic four-year fight against cancer. Joanne was born November 14, 1955. She grew up in Tampa and graduated from King High School in 1973. Joanne is survived by her husband, Greg; son, Justyn; her parents, Eddie B. and Blanche Smith; her mother-in-law, Mary Duke; and sister, Bobbi McLeod (Billy). She was preceded in death by her sister, Betty Albrektson; father-in-law, James "Sonny" Duke; brother-in-law, George Duke. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held from 11 - 1 Thursday, August 23, at The Carrollwood Cultural Center, 13345 Casey Road.


I hope that Joanne can see how much this board has helped so many of us. May she rest in peace.

Lori

Comments

  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #2
    I'm so very sorry to hear
    I'm so very sorry to hear this. JDuke, you did a wonderful thing starting this forum. It has and will continue to have a profound effect on all its members.

    To our members (and I'm telling this to myself too), we must not let Joanne's death prevent us from experiencing all the happiness this life has to offer.

    God bless you, Joanne, and may he be holding you in the palm of his hand forever more.
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #3
    Dear Joanne--
    I feel such a sense of loss hearing of your passing. You did so much for all of us here and I'm not sure we ever thanked you enough, if that was possible. You gave us all a place to offer support and be supported in a group that truly understands this journey. I want to offer the following poem in your memory. May God Bless You and May You Rest In Peace.

    Love and Many Thanks--
    Martha

    Thank God for you good friend of mine
    Seldom is friendship such as thine
    How very much I wish to be
    As helpful as you've been to me.
    When I recall from time to time
    How you inspired this heart of mine,
    I find myself inclined to pray
    God bless my friend this very day.
    So often at the throne of grace,
    There comes a picture of your face.
    And then, instinctively, I pray
    That God may guide you all the way.
    Someday I hope with you to stand
    Before the throne at God's right hand
    And say to you at journey's end
    Praise God, you've been to me a friend.
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #4
    Lori--
    Thank you so much for letting us know that Joanne has passed. This makes me so very sad. She was an angel here on earth and will be in heaven too.
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #5
    :(
    I had something I wanted to say...wrote a nice post....one pecking keys...not on a keyboard...connection lost with msg

    I'm spent now but will be back

    This saddened me too.

    -craig
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #6
    Sundanceh said:

    :(
    I had something I wanted to say...wrote a nice post....one pecking keys...not on a keyboard...connection lost with msg

    I'm spent now but will be back

    This saddened me too.

    -craig

    Oh no.....
    Joanne thank you. Rest in peace dear friend. I am heartbroken to hear of this sad news. Right now I am in shock and there is much I want to write but I just can't.
    Another angel in heaven.

    Liz
  • rds711
    rds711 Member Posts: 113
    #7
    May God bless her soul
    I am so saddened to hear of Joannes' passing. Her push to have this board created will never be forgotten. Her words of encouragement and support helped so many. Personally this board truly has been my lifeline throughout my journey with anal cancer, I cannot imagine how rough it would have been had it not been here.

    Joanne made sure we all found each other in our darkest hours in this haven of support.
    There truly are angels that walk amongst us and we were blessed to have known one.

    Thank you Joanne, may you now rest in eternal peace.

    Randy
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #8
    rds711 said:

    May God bless her soul
    I am so saddened to hear of Joannes' passing. Her push to have this board created will never be forgotten. Her words of encouragement and support helped so many. Personally this board truly has been my lifeline throughout my journey with anal cancer, I cannot imagine how rough it would have been had it not been here.

    Joanne made sure we all found each other in our darkest hours in this haven of support.
    There truly are angels that walk amongst us and we were blessed to have known one.

    Thank you Joanne, may you now rest in eternal peace.

    Randy

    Joanne
    I remember joining the colorectal forum and then meeting Joanne on line and she had the preserverance to begin this forum for us. I had the pleasure of speaking with her a few times over the years and she was so strong and kind. I hadn't seen her posts for quite awhile and sadly suspected that things had not turned out well.

    This forum will forever be part of her legacy and I hope she is smiling down on us and beaming with pride at how far it has come. This forum has provided so much help and comfort to so many. Joanne we will be forever grateful. I know that you are at peace and no longer suffering. You are missed.

    I looked through Joanne's profile and there are some great pictures of her that resonate her personality and kindness. I don't know if her family logs on but I have her number and I will call to let her husband know how deeply we appreciate what she did for us and how deeply she will be missed.

    Liz
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #9
    lizdeli said:

    Joanne
    I remember joining the colorectal forum and then meeting Joanne on line and she had the preserverance to begin this forum for us. I had the pleasure of speaking with her a few times over the years and she was so strong and kind. I hadn't seen her posts for quite awhile and sadly suspected that things had not turned out well.

    This forum will forever be part of her legacy and I hope she is smiling down on us and beaming with pride at how far it has come. This forum has provided so much help and comfort to so many. Joanne we will be forever grateful. I know that you are at peace and no longer suffering. You are missed.

    I looked through Joanne's profile and there are some great pictures of her that resonate her personality and kindness. I don't know if her family logs on but I have her number and I will call to let her husband know how deeply we appreciate what she did for us and how deeply she will be missed.

    Liz

    Hi Liz--
    I'm so glad that you will be able to contact Joanne's husband. He may not be fully aware of the impact she had on so many lives. Thank you for being our voice.
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #10
    so sad
    she is an angel helping us out from above. God has blessed us all by her. sephie
  • z810840b
    z810840b Member Posts: 207 Member
    #11
    beyond sad
    I am so sad and scared again..Why did this happen??The cure rate is so high..I am 4 years out and doing well.Why J DUKE?? Can some one PLEASE EXPLAIN why some don"t make it???? Joanne and i were diagnosed the same month and year.im rambling...sorry...im so upset.
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #12
    z810840b said:

    beyond sad
    I am so sad and scared again..Why did this happen??The cure rate is so high..I am 4 years out and doing well.Why J DUKE?? Can some one PLEASE EXPLAIN why some don"t make it???? Joanne and i were diagnosed the same month and year.im rambling...sorry...im so upset.

    Joanne
    Joanne had a pleural infusion to the lungs and underwent tx for that, which was radiation I know, and I can't remember if along with that she had chemo. She explained in her posts, so if you do a search on her name JDuke in the content of the anal cancer discussion board, you will find out more. It is very upsetting. Lori
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #13
    z said:

    Joanne
    Joanne had a pleural infusion to the lungs and underwent tx for that, which was radiation I know, and I can't remember if along with that she had chemo. She explained in her posts, so if you do a search on her name JDuke in the content of the anal cancer discussion board, you will find out more. It is very upsetting. Lori

    Alyse--
    I believe Joanne did get chemo for the tumor in her lung. While it is easy to think bad things in light of this, we need to keep in mind that we are all individuals and this disease can affect us differently. No two outcomes are exactly the same. While my heart aches that she is gone, she would not want any of us to not believe that we can beat this disease. The most loving thing we can do in her memory is to soldier on.

    I have missed seeing you here and I hope you are getting along well since the hip surgery. Also, have you celebrated your 4-year post-treatment anniversary yet? Mine was on September 9th. I wish we could celebrate together. Hugs!
  • z810840b
    z810840b Member Posts: 207 Member
    #14
    mp327 said:

    Alyse--
    I believe Joanne did get chemo for the tumor in her lung. While it is easy to think bad things in light of this, we need to keep in mind that we are all individuals and this disease can affect us differently. No two outcomes are exactly the same. While my heart aches that she is gone, she would not want any of us to not believe that we can beat this disease. The most loving thing we can do in her memory is to soldier on.

    I have missed seeing you here and I hope you are getting along well since the hip surgery. Also, have you celebrated your 4-year post-treatment anniversary yet? Mine was on September 9th. I wish we could celebrate together. Hugs!

    sue relays
    Any body hear anything about sue relays???
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #15
    z810840b said:

    sue relays
    Any body hear anything about sue relays???

    sue relays
    I am FB friends with her and see her post now and then. As far as I know, she is doing well.
  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #16
    So sad to hear
    I logged on this morning to complain about nothing, it seems now and saw your post. Thank for letting everyone, including me, know.

    Joanne left an amazing legacy - this board. How she fought for this while she was fighting cancer through treatment for those two metastasis I will never know.

    I don't know how I would have gotten through without her and all of you.

    No more words...

    Sandy

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