Celebrating Col. Jill and Supporting Her Family

You may have heard that our past president and Speakers Academy co-dean Col. Jill Morgenthaler died unexpectedly on February 23. After surfacing from a scuba dive (one of her favorite things) in the Dominican Republic, she lost consciousness and couldn’t be revived.

Everyone who ever met Col. Jill—even in passing—experienced her powerful energy and generosity. She was always willing to share her time, ideas and resources with anyone who asked.

When Col. Jill asked me to become president-elect while she was president, I said, “Really? There must be someone more qualified than me for this!” She replied, “We’ll do it together. You’ll support me when I’m president, and I’ll do the same for you.” Spending more time with her was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

Let’s help each other, and her family, through this tough time.

Choose Your Way to Help

1.     Come together as the NSA-IL community at the March 8 chapter meeting (https://nsa-il.org/event-3115722) We’ll take some time to remember her there. Tim Gard is speaking—because Col. Jill said we all needed to see him.

2.     Attend her March 8 visitation, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, where Col. Jill served as a deacon. This will be in the parish hall (on the east side of the building).  The address is 1095 East Thacker Street, Des Plaines 60016.

3.     Participate in her March 9 funeral service, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the same church.

Col. Jill asked that her life be celebrated and that everyone wear their most colorful outfits to any memorial.

4.     Donate to the Jill Morgenthaler Memorial Fund on GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/jill-morgenthaler-memorial-fund.

5.   Make a donation to her church. See the address above. Col. Jill frequently gave sermons here, using her storytelling skills

Your board also is discussing ways to continue to remember Col. Jill in our chapter and will let you know what we come up with.

Somewhere I know she’s watching us, smiling and saying “Hooah!”

Lynne

Lynne Franklin 

NSA-IL President