Epley, Jillian Grace

EPLEY, JANSEN, TIBBOEL

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2005 at 20:00:07

Funeral services for Jillian Grace Epley, 16 months, of Pella, who passed away Sept. 9, were held Sept. 15 at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Rev. Kenneth Schepel officiated and Marcy Stravers was the pianist Interment was held Oakwood Cemetery in Pella.

Jillian Grace Epley was born at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella, Iowa on April 18, 2002 to Ryan Jon and Kimberly June Jansen Epley.

Soon after birth, she was transferred to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines where her significant heart defects were discovered. Soon thereafter, she was transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa where she was diagnosed with Digeorge Syndrome and Chromosome 22 Deletion. Jill had two heart surgeries, three heart catheterizations, and three additional general surgeries related to other conditions. When she was at home, Jill loved to play with her toes and Tickle-Me-Elmo, in that order. She liked to share her toys with her best friend, Breanna De Jong, and to wear her rose-colored sunglasses.

Jill is survived by her parents, Sergeant First Class Ryan J. and Kimberly J. Epley of Pella; her maternal grandparents: Karen and her husband, Jim Umble, Bryce Jansen and his wife, Linda all of Pella; her paternal grandparents: Sergeant First Class Jonathon and DeAnn Epley of Fullerton, Neb.; her maternal great-grandparents: John and Helen Tibboel of Prairie City; Bessie Jansen of Pella; her paternal great-grandparents: Lawrence and Dorothy Reynolds of Frontenac, Kan.; Carolyn (Epley) and Richard Barber of Grand Island, Neb.; and seven aunts and uncles.

Jill was preceded in death by her maternal great-grandfather, Hermann Jansen and her paternal great-grandfather, Paul Epley.

For those desiring, memorials may be designated for the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City.

The Pella Chronicle, September 19, 2003