Jane Graf needs your prayers
 

From our IVP-Ext

Received a call tonight from the Detroit North Suburban Alumnae Club President, with the news that Jane Graf suffered a stroke today while in the hospital and is not expected to make it through the night. She is currently on a respirator and her blood pressure and heart rate are still dropping.

On Friday she suffered a fall while getting on the stair lift she has in her home. She went to the hospital and they released her as no broken bones were found. Later in the day she couldn’t walk and ended up back at the hospital. The hospital staff gave her a chest X-ray as part of their protocol for moving someone to an assisted living type of place and the X-ray indicated she had a blood clot in her lung. That prompted immediate admission to the hospital.

Subsequent testing found blood clots in her legs, which may have been the reason why she couldn’t walk. Another alumna from DNSAC, works at Beaumont Hospital where Jane is. She visited with Jane and reports that her memory this weekend has not been good and while knowing her name was pretty vague upon further general conversation topics.

Jane suffered a stroke this afternoon. She is in ICU. Various local sisters have been taking turns at the hospital holding vigil. Please say a special prayer for Jane – I’m sure she will feel all of our sisterly love around her as the Lord determines her fate.

Please feel free to forward this to other sisters. I will send an update the moment I hear anything.


**** Dee's words now:
Jane has been such an inspiration to all the Michigan Alpha Gams who have seen her at IRDs for years and years. She was unable to make Convention this year, but in past years, she was the one standing the longest when they sought out the person who had attended the most Conventions. She is a wearer of the Circle. My first memory of Jane is when she spearheaded the reception at the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame when Emily H. Butterfield was elected to it. Jane also did part of the presentation at Emily's grave site when the medallions were placed on the Founder's graves in honor of the Centennial. She believes she was the last Alpha Gam to see Emily alive. Jane has donated endless hours to the Fraternity and the Foundation and her dedication and love for Alpha Gam has been so inspiring and such an amazing show of our ideals. My prayers are with her.

Gosh, it seems Jane has been around forever!

I'll be thinking and praying for her!

Crashing to wish a safe and speedy recovery to Jane Graf. She seems like an incredible lady.

Our prayers are with Jane.

Dee, do you have an update for us?

I received this update in an email timed 10 am today:
I spoke to Patti this morning. She was at the hospital last night along with Marilyn until about 2am sitting with Jane. Marilyn stayed until 5:30am. Jane’s heartbeat is becoming irregular. Her heart rate over the night by the time Patti left was at about 40-50 beats and is still at that rate currently. Marilyn said they drew some blood late last night and Jane’s heart beat picked up but then soon returned to 40-50 beats. She’s still unconscious. Jane had two CT scans yesterday with the latest at 5:30pm. Marilyn took a look at it and said the amount of bleeding she saw was pretty extreme.

THIS IS WHAT SISTERHOOD IS!

I'm glad that my sisters are with Jane.

Again, from our IVP-E:

Hi Everyone!

Things are pretty much status quo with Jane. I spent about 2.5 hours with her late this afternoon. With all the non-stop talking I did I’m not surprised she didn’t sit up and tell me to be quiet! She is still unconscious, heart beat is still irregular (anywhere from 40-79 beats/minute), and has low blood pressure. She was taken off the respirator today at noon with not much hope of survival from the doctors. However when I got to the hospital at 4:30pm, she was still breathing on her own! That just goes to show her spirit that we all know and love. She seems to be resting comfortably and is not on any painkillers; she is only receiving fluids and an antibiotic drip. The doctors are not hopeful that she will recover from the massive stroke so we can only pray for God’s gentle and merciful guiding hand.

Jane has had sisters with her all last night plus today through at least 9pm. I’m guessing one of our sisters who works at the hospital (who spent from 2:30am to 5:30am with her) will probably check in on her tonight. What a blessing that we are able to ensure that she is not going through this journey alone. I plan on stopping by during my lunch hour on Wednesday to check in on her.

I will send any updates the moment I hear. I know she values your thoughts and prayers!

Jane A. Graf has entered Chapter Grand
 

Jane A. Graf - Alpha Delta, wearer of the Circle of Epsilon Pi, entered Chapter Grand at 4:30am this morning (Wednesday, August 9, 2006). A small Memorial Service is being planned.

Jane’s remains will be taken to Ohio where her mother and father are interned.

Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity has lost an outstanding sister who truly exemplified our Purpose through how she lived her life.

She has been an inspiration to us all. May she rest in peace.

what an amazing woman

My condolences to you on the loss of a great sister.

Please accept my condolences. :(

My condolences go out to the women of Alpha Gamma Delta, Jane's family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.

My condolences on the loss of your sister. She sounds like an amazing woman.

My sincerest condolences to all of you...so much love has been exhibited in this thread and I must say, ladies - be strong and keep up the good work.

Oh, I'm soo sad.

But now she can really talk with our Founders about what's been happening to what happened to the new fraternity they founded in 1904.

I know that Jane is at peace in Chapter Grand, but I feel sorrow for all of us that she left behind. We have lost a piece of of Alpha Gamma Delta history today, and a wonderful sister as well.

Funeral Arrangements
 

The funeral service will be held this Saturday, August 12 at 4pm. The Alpha Gamma Delta Memorial service will be held as a part of the funeral service. There will be no visitation at Jane's request. The funeral service will be held at:

AJ Desmond and Sons
32515 Woodward Avenue
Royal Oak, MI 48073
800-294-5668

In lieu of flowers, especially as there is only a funeral service, Jane expressed her desire that memorial contributions be made to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation, specifically to the Jane A. Graf Scholarship Fund (established by Detroit North Suburban Alumnae Club) or to the SIS grant program. An online giving form is available at https://www425.ssldomain.com/alphaga...ine_giving.cfm.

There will be a gathering of sisters after the funeral service at a nearby restaurant to share fond memories with Jane. A pizza/pasta buffet and cake will be available for $13.00per person. If you are interested in attending, please PM me and I will provide you the contact info for RSVP'ing.

Obituary for Jane
 

A very lovely obituary can be found at http://obit.desmondfuneralhome.com/o...isting=Current.

Please feel free to sign the guestbook too!

It seems like she was invincible. I am very sorry to have to miss her "pizza party" but I know she will be there with you!

Oh...
 

With all the buzz about rush going on, etc., I was just thinking about Jane today and remembering seeing her standing at Convention. That was always a hi-light of Convention or hearing Sisters talk about the count of who had attended the most Conventions.

Godspeed, Jane.

The Memorial Service for Jane was lovely. There was a religious service, a time for people to share some thoughts and memories about Jane and then the Alpha Gam service. Jo Hatch had us recite the Purpose for everybody else there and then said "Now doesn't that sound like Jane?" A woman who was sitting in front of me who was not an Alpha Gam, turned around and said to me "That sounds really special" after we said the Purpose. It was a proud Alpha Gam moment. Among people who shared memories were our IVP-E, several women from the Detroit North Suburban Alumnae Club and one woman who is an advisor now who said that Jane was the Fraternity Education advisor when she was a new member at Alpha Pi. One of the speakers noted especially how Jane touched people across generations and another noted how she exemplified how to be a lady. It was very touching and a beautiful tribute to our sister. I feel honored to have known her.