Our mom, Jeanne Walker, passed away yesterday at the age of 62 after a long and incredibly brave fight with pancreatic cancer. She was the mother to five of us—Ashley, Cecilee, Lindsay, Ryan, and Sierra—the grandmother to 7 adorable grandkids whom she cherished, and the devoted human to her beloved dog Forrest. After five years of battling with every ounce of strength and grace, she’s finally at peace.

Jeanne was sunshine in human form. She loved the beach, the warmth of the sun, and the color yellow. She found beauty in small things—wreaths for every holiday, candles that matched the season, and singing out loud to the Doobie Brothers or The Carpenters like no one was listening. She made her home smell like summer citrus or autumn pumpkin, depending on the month, and always found a way to make any space feel safe and cozy.

She celebrated everything. Every holiday had decorations—even the Fourth of July had its own mini tree. She loved being festive, loved being cute, and took pride in matching her accessories to her outfit. That attention to joy showed up in her work as a wedding planner, where her smile and warmth put everyone at ease. She had a voice that could hush a room and a laugh that filled it back up.

She loved being outside. She loved Forrest. She loved the sun on her face and the breeze from Redondo Beach. She loved her kids fiercely and individually. We each had our own relationship with her, our own jokes, our own way of loving her and being loved by her.

We were not ready. I don’t think we ever are. But what she gave us—our bond with each other, our shared love of singing karaoke, of celebrating any chance we get, of laughing loudly and loving deeply—that lives on. Her legacy is in us. In our holidays. In our humor. In our loud matching outfits and our shared group chats and the way we comfort each other now that she’s gone.

Thank you for the messages, the love, and the stories. We’ve read every one. We feel the love around us.

We don’t yet have a memorial planned, but if you’d like to be updated, please reach out to Sierra.

Thank you for being part of her life. Thank you for loving her. She was truly one of a kind.