Memorials
Courageous members from our community have passed away, but the stories of their lives live here in celebration of the joy and love they brought to everyone around them. May their memory be a blessing.
Add a Friend or Loved One
ADD A LOVED ONE
Pauline Habib Siegel
Pauline was our “Queen,” and her light will continue to guide us. It was Pauline’s 1994 diagnosis of TM that catalyzed the formation of SRNA. For over 20 years, she worked with her husband and SRNA President, Sandy Siegel, to educate, support and inspire others in SRNA community. It would be difficult to find a SRNA member who has not been touched by the Siegels’ collective warmth, compassion, and commitment to the organization.
Outside of SRNA, Pauline’s life revolved around her family, students and friends. She taught elementary school in Ohio for twenty-five years. She was beloved – as a wife, a mother, a sitte (grandmother), a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a teacher and a friend to many. She was also a loving mom to her cherished service dog, Kazu.
To view Pauline’s full memorial page, please click here.
Pauline Habib Siegel
Rhana Serene Fleming
Rhana was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis- which is a very rare neurological disorder caused by inflammation across the width of the spinal cord. Rhana spent months in the ICU, eventually made it to rehab, and finally made her way home in late June 2013. She excelled at school and made the National Honor Society. While at School she received awards for reading and math. she learned to paint paintings with her feet and painted over 200 of them. Most were given to friends.
She was Baptized as a Roman Catholic on December 20, 2015, and was a parishioner of St. Pius X Church in Westerly. Her patron Saint was St. Rose of Lima. She loved people and always put others above herself. Always trying to make her friends and family happy. Although she was in a wheelchair she never complained, and always had a smile, and a positive attitude. She hoped that one day she would be able to walk, get married and have children. She loved God, her family, friends, and supporters.
Tragically she died unexpectedly in her sleep at home on the morning of August 24, 2016, at the age of 15, just days before she was to start school as an HS sophomore. I found out at 3:07 that Wednesday, and in a flash, I no longer lived in the same world, everything had changed, a world without Rhana was unthinkable. My heart is broken. No more movies, bowling, daddy days. In the blink of an eye, I was transported to a cold, dark world, an empty shallow space. My life will never be the same, not ever. A big part of me died with her. Through all of this Jesus, and my faith has been my salvation, my hope. There are so many signs that Rhana lives in Heaven and is still here with us. Her spirit lives in my heart, and the hearts of those who loved her. I miss her every minute of every day. She is with God now, her fight with Transverse Myelitis is over. Don’t take life for granted.
— Robert Fleming, Rhana’s father
Rhana Serene Fleming
Marcille Kaufman Pollack
Marcille Kaufman Pollack
Mason Lopardi
11/16/2012 – 5/16/2020
Passed away from ADEM
Mason Lopardi
Joey Jordison
The toll this disease took on Joey was immeasurable, as it is for so many other people in our communities. In Honor of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness month, we want to contribute to the treatment, research and education for those facing a Transverse Myelitis and Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. Joey’s family is working to partner with Joey’s friends and bandmates to raise funds to continue Joey’s fight!
Joey Jordison
Elaine Revell
Initially a substitute teacher and school librarian in San Jose, she married her one true love, Bill, in 1960 in Pacific Palisades, CA, up the hill from the Santa Monica beach where they had met a couple years earlier. In 1963, both graduated together with their master’s degrees from SJSU. They purchased a lot in Saratoga, CA in 1964 and moved into their newly built home in 1966. Except for a four year detour to Denver for Bill’s work in the late 1990s, Saratoga was an idyllic home for them until 2011, when it was time to retire to the Villages in San Jose.
Along with raising a family, Elaine actively volunteered in a variety of areas meaningful to her. This included opening the family home as an election polling place serving as Inspector, years volunteering as librarian at Saratoga Federated Church, as rush chairperson for Chi Omega, and leadership roles at Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society and the Fine Arts League of Cupertino. Elaine was passionate about watercolor art, traveling the world in search of unique sites with which to capture in her paintings. Her talent and skills in watercolor continued to evolve, ever learning new approaches to the art and constantly sharpening her talent and craft. She was a highly accomplished artist with scores of her works displayed in judged shows in both California and Colorado.
Elaine gave unwavering support, finding peace and joy in her faith, family and community. She was well-read, an avid speed-reader, welcomed entertaining family and friends, loved family game nights, gardening, and enchanting conversation. She routinely bestowed deep family history-even mapping its genealogical history in the early 90’s before the Internet. Elaine is and will continue to be missed exponentially. She is survived by her brother Lawrence, her two sons, Mike & James and daughter-in-law, Jennifer.
Elaine Revell
