Jessica Mehringer remembered by family, friends
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
The family and many friends of Jessica Mehringer are treasuring their memories of her smile, her boundless generosity and talent and her immense courage as they prepare for a service this Sunday to honor the spirit of a young woman who tragically lost her life to cancer at the age of 35.

COURTESY OF ALLISON JOHNSON Full of joy, Jessica Mehringer plays in the grass with her daughter Janie and other children who adored her loving spirit.

Mrs. Mehringer died on March 2, 2007 from an ovarian tumor that was only discovered last October. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 18, at 1 p.m. in the Unitarian Church. One of her favorite quotes was, "In the midst of life I will be there," the words which will grace her grave marker.

"Jess wasn't afraid. The only thing she regretted was that she didn't have more time with her daughter," said her husband, Greg Mehringer, speaking of Janie, the couple's four-year-old child. "She faced it with such courage and with such grace and dignity, it was amazing. There wasn't a day for 17 years that I didn't say that I loved her, and now there won't be a day that Janie won't hear that from me. She fought it every inch of the way, and that's really the legacy she's left for Janie."

Mrs. Mehringer was born in Plymouth, Mass. and raised in Kennebunkport, Maine. She was a design major at Syracuse University and came to Nantucket in 1990 while still in college to work for the summer at The White Elephant, where she met her husband. They married in 1994 and in 1996 left the island for graduate studies. In 1998, Mrs. Mehringer received her master's degree through a joint program of the Massachusetts School of Art and Bridgewater State College, after which the couple returned to Nantucket and opened the Bosun's Bistro on Old South Wharf where Mrs. Mehringer created the menu and an inviting atmosphere. She was on the board of the Community Network for Children for three years, taught art classes to a group of parents and children and for several years had her own home-based childcare program.

"Her main love and occupation in the last years was Janie," said Greg, a devotion recognized by all her friends. "Where I'm getting my strength from is from my daughter and from my 17 years with my wife. To be with my wife for the four months [during her illness] gave me closure. It was bittersweet; I walked the last mile with her. We were perfect for each other and it was beautiful. Janie says 'My mommy died and now she's an angel.' She was definitely the nurturer. She's done a wonderful job with her daughter - she is so much like her mother it's uncanny."

The fondness many felt for Mrs. Mehringer was evident in early December when friends organized a benefit for the Mehringers to raise funds to assist with rent, utilities, travel expenses and other costs while she was undergoing chemotherapy. It is rare when someone does not mention what a wonderful mother she was.

"I met her when our daughters were babies. We were together every single day. She was my best friend and I think I was hers," said Melinda Vallett. "I had a blast with Jessica. She was an enormous part of the first four years of my daughter's life. She was so creative and clever and so generous and giving of her time to everyone. From the day she got sick she handled it with such grace and peace. For Janie's short life she gave 100 percent of herself. She was a powerful force in Janie's life, and I think everything Janie is, is because of Jessica's life."

Sue Kraft, who is Janie's pre-school teacher, called Mrs. Mehringer's parenting abilities amazing.

"I feel really blessed to have had her in my life," said Kraft, a sentiment echoed by many others including Allison Johnson who organized a schedule of dinners to be made by friends and brought to the Mehringer's house while Mrs. Mehringer was ill.

"It has been an amazing journey with the community support," said Cheryl Evans. "But she inspires it - she was an incredible mom and a really gifted artist and a very social creature. She had a knack for making friends wherever she went. I'll really miss her."

Mrs. Mehringer's death at such a young age has come as a shock to her peers who nearly all have small children.

"This whole thing has been surreal," said Amanda Liddle, whose daughter, Louisa, attended Mrs. Mehringer's daycare group. "This has hit us to the core. I adored her. My time with her was brief, but she was pure goodness. When Louisa was two and we were trying to teach her the days of the week she would say 'Is it Miss Jessica day?' She'd always be so excited. We're all so sad, and we'll really miss her."

Mrs. Mehringer was predeceased by her grandparents, Mimi and Stanton Bubbins and Bradford Martin, and her mother, Hillary Martin. She is survived by her husband Greg and daughter Elizabeth Jane; her father Michael and stepmother Jackie Martin of Portland, Maine; her brother Josh and sister-in-law Jacqueline Martin, also of Portland; and several aunts and uncles including George and Patricia Martin of Plymouth, Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Mehringer's name may be made to the American

Cancer Society or Hospice of Nantucket. I