Getting Ready for Christmas

Santa I'm ready for you to come. Mom, Grandma and I will be in Massachusetts for Christmas so I hope you'll find us there.

Jack is 3 months old

What a baby

This is Jack Nov. 11, 2007. Sorry I didn't post sooner. I think he's just the greatest baby. I was fortunate enough to visit with Liz and Jack (and Betty) for a few days in November and I really hated to leave. I'm fairly certain that I cried halfway to Jacksonville Airport when I left. I wish I could have stayed longer. I think Jack kind of likes me. Ha ha. I mean really, look at how he's smiling at me and my camera. In reality, I think he had had just about enough of me and my camera by the time I left; I probably stuck it in his face a thousand times. Lucky for him, I hate using a flash, or else he'd probably still be blinking. I took him for a walk around the neighborhood, hoping to have some one-on-one conversation with him, but he fell asleep before we reached the end of the driveway. Well, at least I had some one-way conversation. :) Lizzie, if you ever read this, I love you lots and can't wait to see you again. Talk to you soon. Love Kellie

Baby Jack 2 months

Stopped to visit JJ

Johnnie wanted to let everyone know he is rooting for Liz, Jack and the Sox!

Hope everyone is well, keep the pictures of Jack coming! Can't get enough - can't wait to meet him.

Peace. GO SOX!

Go Sox

Our newest little Red Sox Fan!!! Go sox - lets get a sweep

Here is Baby Jack at 1 month old. Isnt he just tooo Cute! Can you believe its already 1 month

Baby Jack

Here is beautiful baby Jack. He has already gained a pound, so this picture is already outdated!!! We love you baby Jack!

Welcome John James Sappet IV

As many of you know, Liz has been blessed with a healthy baby boy, John James, born on September 11, 2007. He was born at 8:36pm, weighed 8 pounds even, and was 20 inches tall. Both mom and baby are doing great!

Thank you for the many prayers and positive thoughts for both Liz and the baby. Keep those coming. Many of you have asked what she needs at this time. Thanks to so many friends, family and coworkers, she is equipped with loads of baby clothes, a carseat, a pack and play, a bouncy seat, a crib, bath items, grooming items, and much more!

Keep sending your love and support! We'll keep you updated.

Happy Birthday John

In Mark's eulogy to John, he asked us to remember John by going out and making a difference. Together with my mother-in-law, Jeremy and Vicki, we have created Team Sappet for the Jimmy Fund Marathon walk on September 16, 2007. Please join our team and help raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute. Walk the full 26.2, 13.1, 5, or even 3 miles. Every step is a step closer to a cure. Everybody is welcome to join!

John's Obituary

Just in case anyone missed it in the papers.


John J. Sappet, III

August 19, 1969-July 18, 2007

John James Sappet, III, 37 formerly of Bolton, MA died July 18, at home in Ormond Beach, FL with his wife, family and dog, Simon by his side, after a short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was the husband of Elizabeth A. (Fuller), formerly of Fitchburg, MA.

John was born in Framingham, MA, the son of John J. and Barbara J. Sappet, of Ormond Beach, FL. He is survived by his brothers, Jeremy A. Sappet and his wife, Shelley of Sterling, MA, Thomas Burke and his wife Cheryl, Sturbridge, MA, Mark Dilling and his wife Kellie, of Marlborough, CT and Ken Dilling and his wife, Sherri of West Boylston, MA and two sisters, Victoria A. Matts and her husband, Scott of Jacksonville, FL and Kimberly A. Fitzpatrick of Key West, FL, and several nieces and nephews.

He graduated from Nashoba Regional High School, Class of 1987. He was employed by Banker’s Life and Casualty Company in Daytona Beach, FL.

He loved life and lived it to the fullest! He had a beaming smile, a great laugh and charming ways. He enjoyed cooking, fishing and the company of his friends. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan.

Funeral Mass will be Saturday, August 4, 2007 at 11:00 am at St. Francis Xavier Church, Route 117, Bolton, MA. Burial will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Hudson, MA.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at Guiseppe’s Grill in Northborough after the service at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in John’s name to Halifax Medical Center, 7th Floor, Oncology Unit, 303 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 or Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, Inc. 50 Central Street, Hudson, MA 01749.

Memorial Arrangements

Now we have added the details for the gathering after the gravside ceremony. I would like to thank Sherri, Ken and Tom for taking care of this. Peace. I apologize to all of you that have been checking the blog with no updates but there hasn't been anything before today to update you with.

The arrangements have been made and will be on Saturday August 4th. They will start with a mass at 11 AM in Bolton at St. Francis Xavier (where JJ and Tom were alter boys) then there will be a graveside service at St Michael's Cemetery in Hudson where JJ will be buried with his grandfather. We will have a hall with food and drink to which we all hope you come to. This will be posted as soon as we figure it out.

If you could just let me know if you hope to attend (if you already have you're all set) I would appreciate it - we can use it for a head count for food. mdilling@zygo.com

I love this picture of JJ and my cousin Andrea and if you look at him for even a split second you know why - because this is how we want to remember him. That smile unforgettable, that laugh unmistakable, rock on John.

Guiseppe's

We would like to invite all of you that attend the memorial to join us to celebrate Johnnies life and swap some funny stories while having something to eat and drink. There will be a buffet and a cash bar. Bring your best pictures, memories and stories to share. I will really enjoy meeting you, or seeing you again.

We will leave the cemetary and get back to 290 West for a short distance and exit soon after the Solomon Pond Mall. There will be plenty of people to follow and you are all welcome to follow me and Kellie, or my brother or Tom. I'm the dude with the goatee.

Location-->
GUISEPPE`S GRILLE IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM THE SOLOMON POND MALL

FROM THE WEST - ROUTE 290 TO EXIT 25A - APPROX 1/8 MILE OFF EXIT ON THE RIGHT.

FROM THE EAST - FROM MASS TURNPIKE - TO 495 NORTH - TO ROUTE 290 -EXIT 25A - APPROX 1/8 MILE OFF EXIT ON THE RIGHT

FROM POINTS NORTH AND SOUTH - TAKE ROUTE 495 NORTH OR SOUTH TO ROUTE 290 - EXIT 25A - APPROX 1/8 MILE OFF EXIT ON THE RIGHT
THE NAME OF THE EXIT WILL BE - HUDSON ST NORTHBORO

Guiseppe's Grille
35 Solomon Pond RoadNorthboro, MA 01532-1523
Phone: (508) 393-4405

John James Sappet III August 19, 1969 - July 18, 2007

Johnny peacefully left us this morning at home with his wife and brother by his side.


For those of you learning about JJ's death here for the first time we offer our apologies for the impersonal medium. I have faith in your understanding though, because if you know JJ enough to check this blog you will realize how difficult it would be to personally contact all the people he touched throughout his life.

Services and an after party to share stories and pictures will be held in central Massachusetts. They will take place on a Saturday to make it easier for you to join us. Presently we think this will happen Saturday August 4th. The location and a confirmed date will be posted here once the arrangements have been finalized. I ask you to email me at mdilling@zygo.com if you hope to make the memorial so that we may plan accordingly.

As painful as this experience has been since mid-February I will be forever grateful for many things as I believe most closest to JJ would concur. First and foremost I will forever be grateful for, and in awe of, Liz Sappet. The strength, grace and openess with which she handled her husband and his illness will forever be inspirational to us all.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to send cards, pictures, well wishes and prayers. It's unfortunate that you will never truly know just how much comfort it brought him. The outpouring of love amazed him every morning when he woke up to see all the cards Liz had hung for him.

There are people who you meet that make an impact on your life. Sometimes the impact is significant and you become close for a year or two.
Then there are people you meet that change your life and your perspective of it forever regardless how often you see them.

May you rest in peace our friend. We love you dearly and will miss you sorely.

Much Love,
Mark

Update on John's condition

Hi Everyone, I wanted to give you all an update on how John is doing.

Unfortunately I do not have good news.

First, I would like to apologize that we have not been able to call and tell each and every one of you directly. Secondly, I know that after reading this, many of you will want to call and talk to Liz and John. But right now they need their peace and privacy to focus on the challenges at hand. If anyone would like to call and get more information, please use my cell phone number: 781-738-3572 or email address: jsappet@gmail.com and I will answer or return messages as soon as possible.

(Stop reading now if you are an emotional person- this is not an easy one).

Since Thursday July 12th, John’s condition has seriously degraded. It is apparent that the cancer is now taking over and John’s body is starting to shut down. John now spends the majority of the time in a restful state. Every few hours he will wake for a short period of time (5-15 minutes), during these awake periods he will fluctuate between a coherent and incoherent state (Hepatic encephalopathy- With severe liver impairment, toxic substances normally removed by the liver accumulate in the blood and impair the function of brain cells.) Jaundice has set in and his skin and eyes have a very dark yellow color to them.

John’s body is in an extremely weaken state, when he talks it is not very much over a whisper, and many times hard to decipher what he is saying. His muscles have now atrophied to a point where he can only make only rudimentary arm & leg movements. Getting in and out of bed or walking (which he still does a couple times a day) requires one or two people to assist him and protect him from falling. Walking a short distance 15-20 feet is about all he can do at any one time.

When he is in a coherent state you can tell that this is taking a large toll on his emotional state, he gets extremely frustrated with his body failing him. Throughout this journey, John has fought hard all the way, in his current state; his mind is still fighting but his body is not responding.

John’s hospice nurse (Gail) came for a visit today. She was shocked at how much his condition had degraded since her last visit on Thursday. On Thursday John was mobile on his own and not showing any major changes since he entered hospice care. Moving forward the hospice care will be more aggressive, we will be getting daily visits from either John’s nurse, chaplain, or social worker.

Even though John’s physical condition has deteriorated, it is refreshing to see that his personality traits have not. He is still a stubborn Sappet! If you try to assist him getting up or walking he will surely yell at you that he can do it on his own. And he is still a very loving man; even when he is in a restful or incoherent state, and Liz says that she wants a kiss. When she leans in, John is always ready to return her kiss.

Our focus now is making sure that John is comfortable, and we pray that when the time comes he is at peace.

Thank you all for all of your prayers, love and support. I know that all of the cards, letters, calls, and emails have meant the world to John and Liz. It has helped them feel that they are not in this journey alone, please continue your support.

I will leave the message on this note. When the hospice nurse came today, she was wearing a rubber bracelet with a very poignant and fitting message, that I would like to echo; “Cancer Sucks”

Again, please give John and Liz their peace and privacy to focus on the challenges at hand and contact me at 781-738-3572 or jsappet@gmail.com.


Again, thank you all for the love and support that you have shown John and Liz.

God Bless you all.
-Jeremy

Great Pictures

JJ is not feeling so well these days so I thought I would share these pictures with all of you to make you smile - please send your good vibes and/or prayers his way. Thanks, Mark

Picnic with JJ, his mom, sis Vicki, my wife Kellie.

Tom with his best man.

Bustin' him out of hospice for lunch.

Happy 4th of July from Ormond Beach

Here are some pictures and very warm wishes from Ormond Beach. We are having a great time with JJ and Liz. We hope you and yours are all happy and healthy this holiday. I want to say thanks to a few people - Jeremy for his incredible efforts on the house and being an overall great brother - truly amazing. I would also like to thank Kellie, my wife and and Shelly, Jeremy's wife for understanding this is where we need to be right now.

Also I would like to thank all the cards and letters that have been streaming in (Bob Quinn, Robin, Jackie, Lee, Karen and Kathy, Mike D'daeo (sic?) Laurie, Kelly and all the rest of you that I have not mentioned). You will never know the happiness and love that JJ feels when he opens those letters and cards with your warm sentiments. Please keep them coming!

Peace and Much Love,

Mark

Liz, JJ,me, Kellie

Cheryl, JJ, Tom, Liz

Denise, Casey, Liz, Johnny

Simon after his ear issues.........he's better now!

Andy the Armadillo before he got his racing stripes!

Johnny and his best little brother Jeremy.

Happy 4th

Hi everyone.

Ok, so I know I have been MIA lately, but it is not my fault. I am with Kim right now and she has been such a slacker. Everyday I ask her if we can go take pictures. And everyday it has been a new excuse. But today I put my foot down!! (ok so it's really a paw, whatever) I woke up and said this is it lady either you get your but in gear, or by lunchtime your lawn is going to look like Swiss cheese. I gave her until 10am. As you can see she responds well to threats!!

I couldn't let today go by without saying hello to John, Liz and Simon. Oh, how the fireworks tonight will stir up so many memories. But my work here is not done. I still have many more people and places to check out, but don't you worry, I will return.

I miss you and love you!

Your friend,

Andy

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY !!

Andy spotted again

Andy has found beautiful grounds to burrow...he may not make it back to Ormond Beach for the 4th

The Boys

Although I would love to take Andy the Armadillo sightseeing - none of you would recognize the images as I now call home CT. It was a surprising change of heart bringing him to the dentist after you let the kids club him! Let Lizzie in there with some dental tools and you'll hear Andy scream before you can say "bleeding gums"!!

Just wanted to introduce the boys. Tom Burke is on the left, that oh-so-loveable dork is next, then me, Mark and my brother Ken Dilling. We've been around for some time and have been through a whole lot together over the years. I've known JJ since we were 4 when his mom invited me to his birthday party at swimming lessons. This is the 4th grade with JJ, me and Tom.

Johnny is second from left, bottom. Tom is over his left shoulder and I am the loser in plaid pants all the way bottom, right. At least the kid behind me (Chuck West) also wore plaid....

So we've been around a while. JJ, Tom and Ken are that circle of friends that so many people in this world must be jealous of. There are acquaintances you make, friends at work, people you become close to for a while - that might even impact your life significantly - but then move on; if you are fortunate like me you will have a core of quality people that you know will never be replaced, substituted or fully understood. There is not much that we haven't shared both good and bad and I trust these guys with everything I hold dear.

This is us at Ken's stag in Amsterdam. Yup, that's right. It was an unforgettable time (and remembering Amsterdam isn't always easy) and JJ and I saw VanGogh like nobody else I know.

We were all a part of one another's weddings.

And I just heard JJ and Lizzie's weding song this weekend at Home Depot. That renovated barn was beautiful!

I will find the yearbooks from Emerson and Nashoba and entertain you some more at another post soon but I don't want toget too carried away right now. Thanks to my Mom for the Mr Stein picture. Ah 1979...... OY!

We have endured a lot together. I worked with JJ for his dad for 7 years. I rode in Vicki's car while she went around a rotary the wrong way, then me, JJ and Vicki went to see Twisted Sister at the Orpheum. We have gone to college. We have met the most amazing women which we were fortunate enough to marry. The boys have lived together, worked together, been to more shows than most in a lifetime, have survived driveby shootings, work trauma, girl drama, drunken snowball fights on a train, bottle cap fights and dart fights. We have brawled, we have laughed and we have always loved.

Andy goes to the Dentist

I found Andy outside in my yard this morning. He was complaining of a toothache so I took him to work with me to check it out.

Well it turns out he was just grinding his teeth at night with all the stress he had been under. But he was a great patient and asked me to send his love to John, Liz and Simon!!

Love you guys!!

Kim

Got tickets?

Well, as you can see it has been a busy few days for me here in Massachusetts. I had a great time going out with the Mullaneys' they brought me to some really cool places. The visit with the Lizzottes' was fun too, but once they got those baseball bats out it made me a bit homesick.

Anyhow, it got me thinking, I heard the Yankees' were coming to town this weeknd. So, I have been trying to score a ticket. Unfortunately the people up here want money (and alot of it) for tickets, and I spent my last few bucks on the sweet hat I have on in the picture. I never had this problem going to a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game!

So if anyone out there happens to know someone who can smuggle me in to Fenway I will PROMISE not to chew up your lawn! Seriously! I swear!

Oh, and about my side trip to Texas, it really was innocent. I was just droping in on some relatives and they wanted to see if I could still chug a beer in 3 seconds....flat. Well, I am happy to announce this old boy still has it!! I did it in 2.5!

Go Sox!

Finally Captured

How do you capture an armadillo? You do it the Sappet method! The boys decided since Andy was too fast to grab, they would use the Sappet method to capture Andy. Bravely, Zachary grabbed a baseball bat and went on the attack. He whacked Andy on the white-striped shell, while Maddox grabbed him by the tail. Proudly, the boys captured him and drove (with the help of their mom) miles away from their lawn. Is that the end of Andy? Or will he visit your lawn too?

Another sighting!

Andy the Armadillo has been spotted again! While mowing his lawn on a beautiful sunny day, Zachary Lizotte spotted Andy digging in his lawn. Not knowing what to do, he ran for his older brother Maddox for help. Maddox was shocked to hear the news that Andy was back. "What should be do?" wondered Maddox.


Maddox, being the older brother, ran to capture Andy. Though he was fast, he wasn't fast enough for Andy and Andy got away again. What will they do to stop Andy from ruining their lawn as well as the lawn of those they love?

Another sighting!

Armadillo Andy Sighted in Fitchburg

The pesky Armadillo Andy has been sighted in Fitchburg! While playing outside on this beautiful sunny day, two children spotted what looked like a giant shell of armour. As they approached, they saw the unmistakable white stripe of Andy. Before he scampered away, the two boys were able to snap a photo. Be on the look out for Andy in your yard soon! Story to be continued.

This guy gets around

Apparently another sighting of Andy in the Lone Star state!

Where's Andy? Sighting #6

Where's Andy? Sighting #5

Where's Andy? Sighting #4