Jennifer Strange

1972 - 2012

Jennifer Lyman Strange died on the evening of Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, after a 15-month bout with brain cancer.
Friends and family, please join us in celebrating her life at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, at the Cache Valley Unitarian Universalist church, 596 E. 900 North in Logan, Utah. Friends and family are welcome to share memories following a short service. We will gather on the back lawn so please bring a blanket or chair.
Jennifer will be missed by all those who knew her. Truly, to know Jennifer and to love Jennifer, were synonymous. Her genuine concern for others was a continuous thread throughout her short life. From her studies in psychology, to her work with special needs adults and child protective services, to helping young women with eating disorders, Jennifer felt the needs of others and acted upon them. Even in the final stages of her debilitating condition, she rode in the Little Red Riding Hood charity cycling event. She also remained active in clinical trials of cancer treatments for the benefit of other patients.
Jennifer was born in Media, Pa., on Feb. 6, 1972, the youngest of six children. Growing up in Moylan, Pa., she graduated from Strath Haven High School in 1990 and attended Penn State University studying psychology in the university honors program. Three months after graduation, in 1994, she married the love of her life, Jamie Strange. In an old Chevy pickup, they set off for a six-week honeymoon, camping and backpacking in state and national parks across the country.
In 1995, Jennifer and Jamie moved west to Prosser, Wash., where she worked in a domestic violence shelter and later for the state child protective services. In addition to being a compassionate social worker, Jennifer developed a reputation as a thorough investigator and policy expert. Jennifer and Jamie made their home in Pullman, Wash., in 1998, where Jamie attended graduate school and Amelia was born in 2001.
A year later, with Amelia in tow, they moved to the village of Luglon, France, where Jamie conducted field research. Their time was spent learning French and traveling the countryside of France, Spain and England. With fond memories of France, they returned to Pullman and grew the family by one in 2004 with the birth of Sylvie.
In 2006, the family moved to Logan, Utah. Jennifer took up skiing, biking and received her master's degree in social work while raising the girls. Upon completion of her degree, Jennifer worked as a therapist at Avalon Hills.
In May of 2011, Jennifer became ill. Doctors found a tumor in Jennifer's left temporal lobe. The tumor was removed and Jennifer was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiform (GBM) grade 4 cancer. The operations, chemotherapy, radiation and skilled physicians extended her life but quality medical care was not enough, the tumors returned. Even Jennifer's extensive network of loving friends could not curb the growth of such an aggressive tumor. Jennifer died shortly before midnight in the arms of her husband and daughters.
Jennifer is survived by her parents Ann and James Lyman; five siblings; husband Jamie Strange; and daughters Amelia, 11, and Sylvie, 8.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Huntsman Cancer Foundation in honor of Jennifer Strange.