Always an advocate for a healthy lifestyle, Anita was the last person you would ever think to be cancer’s next target. She exercised regularly, ate healthy and most importantly, loved life. Unfortunately, cancer had a different plan for her. The “silent killer,” known as ovarian cancer, took control of Anita’s life at the age of 53. It turned this beautiful woman, who was rarely sick, who barely had a medical history, who was visibly a picture of health, into a patient who became all too familiar with doctor’s appointments and infusion centers. In fact, upon receiving her diagnosis, Anita had no known symptoms of cancer. It was only during one of her annual gynecological sonograms that an unusual mass was detected. The shocking news of stage 3 ovarian cancer soon followed.
Following this diagnosis, Anita also learned that she was the victim of a BRCA1 mutation in her genes, an error that put her at increased risk for developing ovarian cancer. It had only been 22 years earlier that her mother had passed away from breast cancer, presumably also due in part to this same gene mutation. After her prognosis and several surgeries later, Anita’s seemingly healthy life had turned into the battle of her lifetime.
Over the next 7 years, this debilitating disease took control of Anita’s daily life. Her life became governed by continuous blood tests, often revealing failed chemotherapy attempts with few other options remaining. When it was clear that her body was slowly failing, she was determined to maintain a positive and hopeful state of mind. Anita was a committed wife and mother of 2 children. Her family’s well-being was always her first priority. When her energy levels and immune defenses were tested, she continued her job as a remedial reading teacher in Canandaigua, New York.
For 20 years, her goals as a teacher always put the needs of her students first. Her commitment to them would not fail, even when faced with this inconceivable challenge of fighting cancer. In family, friends, colleagues, and students, Anita instilled the value of helping those disadvantaged in her community. As an active member of her church, she started a philanthropic effort called “Second Sunday”. On these Sundays, Anita’s generosity, caring soul and love of cooking helped feed those less fortunate in her town. Many times, Second Sunday was personally funded by Anita, even when she knew future medical costs could become a concern.
During the darkest moments of Anita’s life, she was always ready to lend a helping hand, always putting the needs of others before herself. Her community viewed her as a beacon of hope. She became a hero to those also afflicted by illness, by facing fear and the unknown with courage and grace. Throughout her ordeal, there were never moments of “why me?”. Those that were fortunate enough to know her were inspired by her attitude and respect for life. Anita was committed to maintaining her positive attitude until the very end, always a smile on her face, even when she knew there were only weeks to live. Her last few days were spent sitting in the backyard garden she had meticulously maintained, reflecting on a life that was blessed by family, friends, and those who will forever remember her as an amazing woman.