Jannelle Lyn Bergman, my momma.

"Feet, what do I need them for, when I have wings to fly?"-Frida Kahlo

My mom's Obituary reads;
JANELLE LYN BERGMAN (DAWES) 59, of Temecula, passed away Monday morning. A Temecula native, Janelle was born July 3rd, 1952 to Robert Dawes and Connie Slaughter at Fallbrook Hospital. She grew up in Temecula when the town population was a friendly 200. Her parents owned and operated the first restaurant in Old Town, The Rite Spot, on the corner of Front and Main Streets and the B-Bar-H Cafe. Janelle attended Temecula Union School and Elsinore Union High School, class of 1970.

In 1976 she moved to Portland, Oregon where she attended Multnomah School of the Bible and traveled to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and surrounding areas. While in Oregon, she met her first husband and gave birth to her two daughters, Lisa Marie Locklin and Sara Elizabeth Bergman. In 1984, she returned to her hometown of Temecula.

1987 was a pivotal year for Janelle. Her son, Aaron Joseph Bergman, was born and she began her twenty-year career as a Jazzercise instructor. Janelle founded the local Temecula branch of Jazzercise and attracted a crowd that grew to be hundreds of students and lifelong friends. She was a driven entrepreneur who loved to dance, foster community and teach the principles of health, movement, and the importance of having fun. After a seven year struggle with cancer, Janelle passed peacefully in her home on October 31st, 2011.

Janelle's family includes her three children: son AJ Bergman of Temecula; daughter Sara Bergman of Oakland; daughter Lisa Locklin, son-in-law Kevin Locklin, and granddaughter Chloe Locklin of Phoenix; husband Peter Poole of Temecula and his three children; mother Connie Slaughter of Temecula; step-father Frank Slaughter of Temecula; sister Denice Enochs of Wildomar; brother Steven Slaughter of Temecula; brother Eric Slaughter of Murrieta and his family. She is preceded in death by her father Robert Dawes and brother Bobby Dawes.

Services will be held at 11am on Sunday, November 13th at the Temecula Cemetery. Contributions can be made to : Hospice of the Valley 25240 Hancock Ave #120, Murrieta, CA 92562-5991 (951) 200-7800

Service was held the morning of November 13th.  It was a beautiful sunny fall day. We opened with,

The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

My mom's Eulogy;
Janelle was born July 3rd, 1952 to Robert Dawes and Connie Slaughter. She grew up here in Temecula and spent her early years close with her older sister Denice at their parents’ restaurant, The Rite Spot. Janelle also spent much time with her beloved Grandma Bertie. She attended Temecula Union Elementary and then Elsinore Union High School, where she was a cheerleader for both the high school sports teams and her boyfriend Louie’s band, December’s Children. One of her favorite memories was of late nights dancing in Elsinore at the Lakeview Hotel with her dear Louie. She also fell in love with the ocean at an early age, listening to the waves in Oceanside, where she would return for peace throughout her life.

In 1971 she moved to Portland, Oregon where she attended Multnomah School of the Bible. Janelle traveled to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and surrounding areas. On an archaeological dig in Beersheba, Israel, she uncovered an amphora jug that provided a historical link of trading in the Middle East. Janelle also worked at Youth for Christ as a counselor and really found herself in the work of guiding and advising youth. While in Portland, she met her first husband, Bruce Bergman, and spent much time with his family out at their farm in rural Oregon. There they picked berries, played games and read books next to the wood stove; Janelle content with her new big family. In Portland, Janelle and Bruce bought their first home where they welcomed their daughter, Lisa Marie. Years later, they dreamt of a community farm in Ashland where they purchased land overlooking Immigrant Lake and had their second daughter, Sara Elizabeth.

In 1984, Janelle, Bruce and their two daughters returned to Janelle’s hometown of Temecula, where a few years later her son, Aaron Joseph, was born, 10lbs. 6oz. worth waiting for. After AJ’s birth, she then began her twenty-year career as a Jazzercise instructor. Janelle founded the local Temecula branch of Jazzercise and attracted a crowd that grew to be hundreds of students and lifelong friends. She was a driven entrepreneur who loved to dance, foster community and teach the principles of health, movement, and the importance of having fun.

In the early 1990’s, Janelle and Bruce separated. Janelle worked very hard as a single mother, and always cultivated a warm home with an open door for all friends and family. She obtained her license as a massage therapist and felt invigorated by her work at the Murrieta Day Spa. Once again, Janelle found herself in this work of serving others. During this time, Janelle met her second husband, Peter Poole. The two found companionship working together at Mount Palomar Winery, traveling to Europe, and hosting dinner parties with their friends. With Peter, she enjoyed the company of his children and visiting his grandchildren, Poppy and Leo, on the Oregon coast.

Shortly thereafter, Janelle was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout numerous diagnoses and treatments, she showed a strength of spirit and will to live that astounded even her doctors. While her illness compromised much of her physical ability, she enjoyed spending Saturdays giggling with her sister Denice, late-night apple pies with her brother Steve, and long philosophical conversations with her brother Eric. The family dogs, Shorty, Biggie and Rita, were among Janelle’s favorite characters, and always kept her feet warm. Just last year, her rambunctious little granddaughter, Chloe Elizabeth, was born to her daughter Lisa and son-in-law Kevin. Through her last days, Chloe provided her with immense joy and belly-aching laughter.

After a seven-year struggle with cancer, Janelle passed peacefully in her home on the morning of Monday October 31st, 2011.

Closing with, Hopi Prayer:

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow
I am the sunLight on the ripened grain
I am the gently falling autumn rain

When you wake in the morning hush
I am the swift upLighting rush
of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft starLight at night
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
... 

I am so thankful that she was my mother.  I've mentioned this before but it will forever be fitting;
"I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine - she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights." -Terri Guillemets.  She is continuing to help me grow daily.