TRIBUTE TO JANE BOOGE

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

     WITH SADDENED HEARTS THE PENN STATE ICE HOCKEY FAMILY LOST ONE OF THEIR OWN ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2012.  JANE BOOGE LOST HER THREE YEAR BATTLE WITH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER. ELI BOOGE (JANE'S SON) PLAYED DEFENSE FOR THE PENN STATE ALTOONA TEAM FROM 2010 TO 2012.  JANE WAS AN INSPIRATION AND TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF MANY WHO CAME IN CONTACT WTH HER.  FOR THE FEW GAMES SHE WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, SHE WAS A PROUD HOCKEY MOM, CHEERING FOR HER SON AND HIS TEAM EVERYTIME THEY TOOK THE ICE.  I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO HER A FEW TIMES AND TELL HER HOW DEDICATED ELI WAS AND SEE WHERE HE GATHERED ALL HIS STRENGTH FROM.  BELOW IS HER STORY AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING...

     On December 10th, 2009, my life changed forever. I was 44 years old and diagnosed with an estrogen receptor positive, progesterone receptor positive, Her2 negative, invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast and invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma of the right breast. Shortly after that, I was told I had bone metastases. The cancer had spread to my bones. Wow, that’s a mouthful! I am amazed I understand these medical terms that were once so foreign to me.

Tears rolled down my face after hearing the shocking and disappointing news. I hugged my husband for a long moment hardly able to believe what I had been told. My first thought was I can’t die. I have to be here for my children’s graduations, their weddings, the births of my grandchildren and growing old with my husband. I was scared and I believed I was given a death sentence. I was always such a healthy and active person, worked out, didn’t smoke or drink, watched what I ate. This did not shield me from breast cancer.  One thing I learned is that cancer seems to be harder on those who love me than it has been on me. I have a sense of peace that I am going to be taken care of. I also learned to accept help from others.

     Jane Earline (Gerlach) Booge, 47, of Downingtown, PA, passed from this life into life eternal with her Lord and Savior Christ Jesus on September 23, 2012, after a three year struggle with metastatic breast cancer. Jane was born on February 25, 1965 in Columbus, Ohio. Jane was the wife of James (Jeb) E. Booge IV with whom she shared 23 years of marriage and mother to James (Eli), Maddison and Jake. She was the daughter of Karl (Jerry) and Patricia Gerlach. Jane is also survived by a brother, Andrew Gerlach, his wife Carolyn and their daughters Molly and Grace; a sister, Amy Shobaken, her husband Ben and their children Erik and Brian; and her twin sister, Jennifer Jones, her husband Dan and their daughters Haley and Brynn.

Jane was a graduate of Downingtown (West) High School class of 1984 and Penn State University class of 1988. She played tennis for both schools. After Graduation Jane was employed as School Director of Carefree Learning Center, Lionville, PA and then Chesterbrook Academy of Lionville, and West Chester, PA. Her most recent employment was at Uwchlan Hills Elementary School where she was an Instructional Aide.

Jane had it all: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control (Galatians 5:22)

     PLEASE JOIN THE LIONS AS WE DEDICATE OUR 2012-2013 SEASON TO JANE BOOGE AND SEND OUR CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS TO ELI AND THE ENTIRE BOOGE FAMILY.