Jennifer Kaye Gohlke's Story
Donation protected
JENNIFER KAYE GOHLKE
Update: Just to clarify, any money given will be donated in Jenny's name to The Montrose Center, which is a place Jenny volunteered at and received support during her transition, and also The National Brain Tumor Society.
Jennifer Kaye Gohlke, 27, beloved daughter of Marcus and Kaye Gohlke of Pearland, Texas, moved into the next dimension at noon on May 9, 2016. Jenny was compassionate to all, and helped all who came into her life with encouragement, appreciation and gentleness. People often remark that Jennifer taught them love and acceptance. Jenny was born in Houston, Texas on January 20, 1989 and is now free of the earthly burdens she has suffered with for so long.
At the age of 9 Jennifer was an accomplished computer gamer. Her love of gaming helped to transition her into computer programming. She helped build many useful modifications to very popular online games that she allowed everyone to use for free. Jennifer’s software development skills allowed her to license her first program at age 15. At the age of 16, after two weeks in school, her teacher decided that she should teach the senior level computer science class at Pearland High School. Jennifer attended the University of Houston Honors College as a Computer Science major. As a full time student she also worked part time as the IT manager of her mom’s CPA firm. Jennifer designed, implemented and maintained her mom’s company computer network. She took a sabbatical her junior year to perform work developing a business data base that interfaced, combined and organized the nation’s state records information.
In addition to her love for computers Jennifer also loved to play many musical instruments, and especially enjoyed her numerous guitars and synthesizers. She has composed many pieces of stunning music that instill healing and peace to all who listen. As a young teenager in high school, Jennifer combined her skills of computers, electronics and music by designing and installing the first home outdoor Christmas light and music spectacular in Harris County. Her Christmas light show was featured on Channel 11 ten o’clock news.
Jenny loved to travel. During her short life she had the opportunity to take a long trip to Europe with her father. She visited the Netherlands, Germany, (the birthplace of her Grandmother Inge), Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Several years later Jenny traveled by herself to Scotland to meet a friend she had met online. Jennifer fell in love with Jessica and returned on a mission to bring Jessica to the states. Within two months of Jennifer’s return, recurring headaches lead to her diagnosis. For the last two years Jenny fought against an overwhelming tide of brain cancer known as diffuse glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) that can double in size every 30 days. After her diagnosis, she researched GBM and realized that she was given a death sentence. Jennifer accepted her diagnosis, yet she challenged her fate with a desire to beat the odds and live. She was the perfect patient that researched alternatives and diligently complied with various rigorous treatment protocols.
Jennifer was a creative writer which allowed her to connect deeply with others. She believed that this world needs compassion in every aspect of our lives. Jenny strived to achieve this in her daily life and she believed in the principles of the Samsāra doctrine of rebirth and the circles of life. Her hope in her writings was to let her family and friends know that one of the greatest aspects of life is to have compassion for ourselves and others. Her last poem meant so much to her and her family:
“Only I Will Go”
By Jennifer Kaye Gohlke
This time you should know only I will go
when everything I have is gone.
I see time passing so very slow,
You always bring me through.
You’ll know where to find me,
I'll be right beside the only thing that's left for me to know.
Only I / only I will go.
Jenny leaves behind her brother Jason Gohlke (wife JoJo of Pearland TX; her sister Kristen Barnet (husband Jeffery and children Jameson, Brynn and Adelaide) of Jefferson, GA. She leaves her maternal grandmother Martha Foster of Pearland. She is survived by her Aunt Terri Hurley (husband Uncle Greg of Sugar Land, TX and children Amanda Hurley of Cupertino, CA and John Hurley of Sugar Land) and her Aunt Dianne Cain and her children of Spring, TX. Loving her is her Aunt Sandra Merhej (husband John Domenowski) and Uncle Saad Merhej (of Lebanon) and their children Suzanne Weed (husband Todd and daughter Katie) and Michael Merhej all of Redmond, WA, and Susan Difrancesco (husband James and daughter Anna Marie) of Victoria, BC. Her loving caregiver Kathleen Brewer gently and ably cared for Jennifer during the last years of her life and steadfastly nurtured and learned so much from Jenny. Jenny has many known and unknown friends whose lives she has touched in so many ways.
Jenny is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Inge and Aldo Gohlke of Yorktown, TX and her maternal grandfather Bruce Foster of Pearland, TX and her aunt Linda Cole of Houston, Texas.
Thursday, May 26, 4:00 pm - Celebration of Jennifer’s Life service
Niday Funeral Home, 12440 Beamer Road, Houston, TX 77089
Reception following from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Golfcrest Country Club, 2509 Country Club Drive, Pearland, TX 77581.
Attire is requested to be comfortable and either white or light colors. This will be a celebration of her life where we will lift up Jenny by extolling her good deeds. If she helped you endure one of life’s many hardships or if she just helped you with an electronic problem please let us know at her reception!
In lieu of flowers, Jennifer and her family ask that any donations be made via GoFundMe, the proceeds which will be distributed to the following charities:
Montrose Center, 401 Branard Street, Houston, TX 77006
and
National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel, Suite 200 Newton, MA 02458
Update: Just to clarify, any money given will be donated in Jenny's name to The Montrose Center, which is a place Jenny volunteered at and received support during her transition, and also The National Brain Tumor Society.
Jennifer Kaye Gohlke, 27, beloved daughter of Marcus and Kaye Gohlke of Pearland, Texas, moved into the next dimension at noon on May 9, 2016. Jenny was compassionate to all, and helped all who came into her life with encouragement, appreciation and gentleness. People often remark that Jennifer taught them love and acceptance. Jenny was born in Houston, Texas on January 20, 1989 and is now free of the earthly burdens she has suffered with for so long.
At the age of 9 Jennifer was an accomplished computer gamer. Her love of gaming helped to transition her into computer programming. She helped build many useful modifications to very popular online games that she allowed everyone to use for free. Jennifer’s software development skills allowed her to license her first program at age 15. At the age of 16, after two weeks in school, her teacher decided that she should teach the senior level computer science class at Pearland High School. Jennifer attended the University of Houston Honors College as a Computer Science major. As a full time student she also worked part time as the IT manager of her mom’s CPA firm. Jennifer designed, implemented and maintained her mom’s company computer network. She took a sabbatical her junior year to perform work developing a business data base that interfaced, combined and organized the nation’s state records information.
In addition to her love for computers Jennifer also loved to play many musical instruments, and especially enjoyed her numerous guitars and synthesizers. She has composed many pieces of stunning music that instill healing and peace to all who listen. As a young teenager in high school, Jennifer combined her skills of computers, electronics and music by designing and installing the first home outdoor Christmas light and music spectacular in Harris County. Her Christmas light show was featured on Channel 11 ten o’clock news.
Jenny loved to travel. During her short life she had the opportunity to take a long trip to Europe with her father. She visited the Netherlands, Germany, (the birthplace of her Grandmother Inge), Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Several years later Jenny traveled by herself to Scotland to meet a friend she had met online. Jennifer fell in love with Jessica and returned on a mission to bring Jessica to the states. Within two months of Jennifer’s return, recurring headaches lead to her diagnosis. For the last two years Jenny fought against an overwhelming tide of brain cancer known as diffuse glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) that can double in size every 30 days. After her diagnosis, she researched GBM and realized that she was given a death sentence. Jennifer accepted her diagnosis, yet she challenged her fate with a desire to beat the odds and live. She was the perfect patient that researched alternatives and diligently complied with various rigorous treatment protocols.
Jennifer was a creative writer which allowed her to connect deeply with others. She believed that this world needs compassion in every aspect of our lives. Jenny strived to achieve this in her daily life and she believed in the principles of the Samsāra doctrine of rebirth and the circles of life. Her hope in her writings was to let her family and friends know that one of the greatest aspects of life is to have compassion for ourselves and others. Her last poem meant so much to her and her family:
“Only I Will Go”
By Jennifer Kaye Gohlke
This time you should know only I will go
when everything I have is gone.
I see time passing so very slow,
You always bring me through.
You’ll know where to find me,
I'll be right beside the only thing that's left for me to know.
Only I / only I will go.
Jenny leaves behind her brother Jason Gohlke (wife JoJo of Pearland TX; her sister Kristen Barnet (husband Jeffery and children Jameson, Brynn and Adelaide) of Jefferson, GA. She leaves her maternal grandmother Martha Foster of Pearland. She is survived by her Aunt Terri Hurley (husband Uncle Greg of Sugar Land, TX and children Amanda Hurley of Cupertino, CA and John Hurley of Sugar Land) and her Aunt Dianne Cain and her children of Spring, TX. Loving her is her Aunt Sandra Merhej (husband John Domenowski) and Uncle Saad Merhej (of Lebanon) and their children Suzanne Weed (husband Todd and daughter Katie) and Michael Merhej all of Redmond, WA, and Susan Difrancesco (husband James and daughter Anna Marie) of Victoria, BC. Her loving caregiver Kathleen Brewer gently and ably cared for Jennifer during the last years of her life and steadfastly nurtured and learned so much from Jenny. Jenny has many known and unknown friends whose lives she has touched in so many ways.
Jenny is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Inge and Aldo Gohlke of Yorktown, TX and her maternal grandfather Bruce Foster of Pearland, TX and her aunt Linda Cole of Houston, Texas.
Thursday, May 26, 4:00 pm - Celebration of Jennifer’s Life service
Niday Funeral Home, 12440 Beamer Road, Houston, TX 77089
Reception following from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Golfcrest Country Club, 2509 Country Club Drive, Pearland, TX 77581.
Attire is requested to be comfortable and either white or light colors. This will be a celebration of her life where we will lift up Jenny by extolling her good deeds. If she helped you endure one of life’s many hardships or if she just helped you with an electronic problem please let us know at her reception!
In lieu of flowers, Jennifer and her family ask that any donations be made via GoFundMe, the proceeds which will be distributed to the following charities:
Montrose Center, 401 Branard Street, Houston, TX 77006
and
National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel, Suite 200 Newton, MA 02458
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristen Barnet
Organizer
Pearland, TX
Jason Gohlke
Beneficiary