The following is Ed's speech, delivered at funeral services on Saturday, September 22, 2007.
NOTE: Material copyrighted by Ed Coleman
Hello. I’m Ed Coleman.
Thank you so much for being here.
Everyone please smile to honor Jessica.
This is a celebration of an extraordinary person who has become an angel for everyone at this service. Jessica means so much, to so many people. She is a woman for others.
At this time, my heart is not just broken but it has been shattered. I cannot express how badly I miss Jessica. I have comfort knowing that Jessica is in heaven and that her spirit still—and always will—live on inside of me as it does inside each of you.
And there are so many people who love Jessica. Looking out on the faces of each and every one of you today is a testament to your love for her.
I am greatly blessed to have found my soul mate. She is my best friend and I love her with my whole heart and soul. I agree with Justine when she told Jessica on Monday afternoon that she loved her to the end of the universe and back.
It truly was an honor and a privilege for me to be her partner through her battle with melanoma cancer. I am satisfied that the Jessica-and-Ed team did our best.
Jessica and I will always be a great team. My love and support for Jessica was unwavering as hers always has been for me.
Jessica always amazes. After she breathed her last breath and barely had a pulse, she smiled three times. I told Justine and Eddie that there was one for each of them and one for me. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful life. As I repeated to Jessica on Monday, please be at peace.
Jessica is clearly in a better place. I have told many people that Jessica better be in heaven, because if she didn’t get in, the rest of us are in a rough spot.
I know in my heart that Jessica’s message to you is to be at peace, to hold on to the happy memories with her, and to smile. Jessica sends her love from heaven through me. If she was able to share her thoughts with you here today, I believe that this would be her message:
Dearest Family, Neighbors, and Friends,
I am so thankful that I have this opportunity to show my appreciation for all that you have meant to me. I know that this is a celebration of my life but it is more than that. It is a celebration of my interactions with each of you.
I am a very lucky girl. My family always thought the world of me. They have supported me in whatever I have done. They have shared my accomplishments and they have been there for me during the difficult times. I hold dear the memories of family vacations to Walt Disney World and Ocean City throughout the years. And I am so grateful that Ed was able to get me to both this past year.
I have made tremendous friends along the way. Once I made a connection, I would try to keep that friendship alive. I am proud to say that there are a number of people in the congregation who I have known from Salisbury High School and even some from Salisbury Middle School and Western Salisbury Elementary School. Old friends are good friends.
In high school, I was blessed with a close-knit group of friends who had a lot of fun. I have great memories that I treasure from that time - class trips, school plays, tennis team, and cheerleading. I am proud of the deep friendships that I made, and am thankful that I have been able to keep those friends over the years.
Someone must be watching out for me. I continued to be surrounded by so many special people when I went to Lehigh University. My circle of friends grew bigger especially with the sisters of AOPi sorority and the cheerleading squad.
The momentum of good things in my life did not falter after college. I graduated with my accounting degree and I went to work at Coopers & Lybrand and Concannon, Miller, & Co. As always, I made some great friends during my working days, too.
Most importantly, I met my husband, Ed, during this time. We were made for each other. We formed an incredibly strong relationship and have had very special times together. We shared our circles of friends. I know that he truly cherished me. He would do anything for me. I am a very lucky girl.
Ed and I were blessed with two beautiful children – Justine and Eddie. I am so proud of our children. They will always be so important to me. I cannot thank God enough for these two miracles.
I guess good luck breeds more good luck. When our family decided to live in Farmington Hills in Macungie, we moved into a very special neighborhood. We formed such tight bonds with our neighbors that many others envy us. I can safely say that I could count on my neighbors at a moment’s notice. And I could never ask for better neighbors.
We also are blessed with the perfect church for us. St. Anne’s Episcopal Church was right for us from the beginning. It is warm and caring. Father Michael and my church friends are very special to me.
I am so proud that I was able to document all of my good fortune shared with friends and family throughout the years, and I have spent many hours scrap booking those memories. And now I am so thankful that I could create these lasting testaments to my good times.
Oh--I almost forgot.
I also had melanoma cancer.
It was a part of my life for the last few years, and unfortunately made my life shorter than I would have hoped. But I have never let that bother me.
Instead I decided the following: 1. I would fight the cancer with the support of my husband, family, neighbors, and friends. 2. I would still always have a smile for each and every person. 3. I would never let anyone see me down because I only know how to bring out the best in everybody. 4. That I would win my battle no matter how bleak it got.
Again I was blessed. I had the best care. I formed strong bonds with many of my doctors and nurses. I cannot thank them enough. They enabled me to enjoy my time with you longer.
Despite my strength and support, the struggle became harder. No matter how bad the news, I was always determined to get to my miracle. I have received so much support that I was never sure how to handle it. Honestly, I guess that I was put on this earth to help other people. Receiving support is foreign to me. So I decided to give back and started the Race Against the Sun 5K Walk and Run. In that way, I could further research to fight melanoma and to promote early detection. I am completely overwhelmed that the Race Against the Sun has already topped $60,000.
Ed promised that he would get me to the race, and I don’t want him or any of you to worry that I will miss it. I will be there next Saturday. The presence of my spirit will be strong.
Fortunately, I used the time during my battle with cancer to strengthen relationships. I reconnected with many dear friends from high school and college which allowed me to relive memories. This truly was a blessing. My connection with neighbors and friends grew deeper and deeper. I frequently spoke to so many of you. I was invested in you. I enjoyed hearing about your lives. I learned to appreciate everything that I had.
I received so many heartfelt messages especially when things got worse. I cannot believe how lucky that I was to both hear and feel the love that you had for me. This is truly a very special gift.
Yes, I did die on Monday but I died happy and at peace. I was with my parents, my sister, and my husband. I found the strength to give my husband a kiss on the cheek. It was my way of thanking him. I smiled three times after my last breath for a reason. I got to my miracle – the miracle of new life. Please know that I am in heaven smiling down on you. I truly am the luckiest girl.
I am so thankful that you enriched my life. The best way for me to show my gratitude is to watch over you. Any time that you need me, I will be there for you. You can count on me. I am still involved in your lives and I still want to know how your family is doing. You are very special and dear to me.
All of my love,
Your angel,
Jessica Coleman
Thank you so much for being here for us. God Bless.
Click here if you would like to make a donation to Race Against the Sun.
