Jill Daniel was beautiful, giving, fun-loving, passionate, funny, bold, vivacious, devoted, dependable and wonderful. She could make anyone laugh, if not with her wit then certainly with her laugh, as it was truly contagious. She loved to read mysteries, work crossword puzzles and grow roses.

Jill married Tad Daniel one month from the day they met. While unusual, it worked for them. They were happily married for 20 years and had three children: Charlie, Anna and Melanie. Jill said the family they created was her greatest accomplishment. Her love, commitment and devotion to her family was unmistakable.

Very few people are fortunate enough to earn a living doing what they truly love. Jill was one of these. As an ICU RN, she had the skills and experience as well as the emotional strength and knowledge to handle the most challenging situations. Her colleagues said that she could transition easily from a very traumatic situation and immediately be compassionate to a patient who was anxious, or had questions or who just wanted to talk about their disease or condition.

In September 2009, 50-year-old Jill complained of a migraine headache. She suffered several irreversible cerebral hemorrhages. “How ironic that the team she usually worked with in the ICU ended up taking care of her,” said Tad. “There was no question that Jill wanted to be an organ donor. We often sat on the back porch and talked and listened to music. She would bring up organ donation a lot. She said that if anything happened to her, she wanted to be sure they used anything and everything they could. She always wanted to help save other people. And she saved so many by being an organ and tissue donor.”