Jean Wade
Jean Wade is an incredible woman who has had her fair share of rough spots, but chooses to live life to the fullest in spite of them.
Wade was formally introduced to Wyoming when she and her family moved to Rock Springs in 1982. David, Wade’s husband, was called as a pastor to First Congregational Church of Rock Springs and she took a job as a teacher and later accepted the position of human resource director and development director of YWCA, a job she thoroughly enjoyed.
After years of living and working in Rock Springs, the Wade family’s lives took an unexpected turn when David was diagnosed with brain cancer. The family kept their faith and worked together to get through this trying time, but by the mid-nineties, David had passed away.
Not one to let hard times get the best of her, Wade chose to continue her work at YWCA and began serving as a lay minister for the United Church of Christ in Pinedale. A 102 mile drive, she made the trip each week to serve the congregation- a labor of love.
Approximately seven years after David’s death the family was once again hit hard. Jean was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, but being Jean, she didn’t let it stop her. She knew that she loved the work she was doing and that it kept her going, so she continued to drive the 102 miles to serve the church in Pinedale only stopping years later, when the drive became too taxing. She also continued to work for YWCA until 2009 when she moved to Utah to be closer to the doctors treating her and to serve another church.
Wade has since had a multitude of surgeries, and multiple courses of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but she continues to work. She is currently Associate Conference Minister of the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ, where her position is Clergy Support for those in Wyoming and Utah.
When asked what her greatest accomplishments are, Wade exclaims, “Living every day! I tried retiring, but it lasted three days.” Wade is proud that she is able to help others and share their joys and pains.
“I am also extremely proud of my time with the YWCA. They have grown from a small grass roots organization to a vital community service that has changed the lives of women and children throughout Sweetwater County.”
Wade is a doer, a go getter and a lover of life. Deanna Frey, a friend of Wade’s, will tell you that what makes Wade remarkable “is her spirit and love of life. She is perhaps the most giving individual I’ve ever met. As she has fought to survive her cancer she reaches out to people in her congregation and those with whom she works when they are struggling to meet daily challenges. She works tirelessly to educate co-workers and community members about diversity and acceptance. And her intelligence, compassion and philanthropy are unequaled.”
When asked what has kept her motivated as she battles cancer, Wade replies, “What else would I do? Cancer is a condition. I refuse to let it be a daily death sentence.”
|
