Obituary for Jennifer Sue Chaligoj (Spencer)
Jennifer Sue Chaligoj, 61, of Doniphan, Missouri, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on Monday, February 17, 2020. Jennifer was born on Friday, April 11, 1958, in Pocahontas, Arkansas, to Paul and Shirley Smith Spencer.
Jennifer is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Shirley Smith Spencer.
Jennifer is survived by her husband, Thomas Chaligoj, of the home; daughters, Erica Chaligoj and Dr. Ashley Chaligoj, both of Columbia, Missouri; brother, Jeff (Becky) Spencer, of Jonesboro, Arkansas; sister, Paula (Don) Hicks; of Cabot, Arkansas; brother-in-law, Robert Chaligoj, of Doniphan; and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, friends, and hospice staff.
Jennifer (or Jenny) graduated from Maynard High School as a proud member of the class of 1976. She married her soul mate, Tom, on May 29th, 1976, and together they spent the next 43+ years wondering if their marriage was really going to work. Thankfully it did. She became a mother in 1981 and again in 1986. Jennifer loved her husband and her daughters with all of her being. In becoming a nurse, Jennifer found her true calling in life. She spent 23 years as the school nurse/surrogate mother at East Carter County Schools in Ellsinore, MO.
As a young woman, Jennifer loved riding horses with her dad, and camping and traveling with her family. She was an avid reader and could listen to music for hours on end. In later years, she enjoyed reading celebrity gossip magazines, taking road trips with Tom, and reconnecting with old friends and former students via social media.
Jennifer was a life-long animal lover, with a particular soft spot for cats. She will have many four-legged family members waiting for her on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
As a testament to her passions, Jennifer was overjoyed that one of her daughters became a neonatal intensive care nurse and the other a veterinarian. She was very proud of the life she built with her beloved Tom. She will be missed more than words can say.
Service arrangements for Jennifer Sue Chaligoj are as follows: All services will be held at the Doniphan Church of Christ, in Doniphan, Missouri. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, on Friday, February 21, 2020. Jennifer’s funeral service will begin at 12:00 pm, on Saturday, February 22, 2020; Gerald Fears, officiating. Burial will follow in the Macedonia Cemetery, in Doniphan.
The family asks that you consider making a donation to Children’s Homes in Paragould, AR (www.childrenhomes.org), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), or Second Chance animal rescue in Columbia, MO (www.columbia2ndchance.org), in memory of Jennifer.
Jennifer is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Shirley Smith Spencer.
Jennifer is survived by her husband, Thomas Chaligoj, of the home; daughters, Erica Chaligoj and Dr. Ashley Chaligoj, both of Columbia, Missouri; brother, Jeff (Becky) Spencer, of Jonesboro, Arkansas; sister, Paula (Don) Hicks; of Cabot, Arkansas; brother-in-law, Robert Chaligoj, of Doniphan; and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, friends, and hospice staff.
Jennifer (or Jenny) graduated from Maynard High School as a proud member of the class of 1976. She married her soul mate, Tom, on May 29th, 1976, and together they spent the next 43+ years wondering if their marriage was really going to work. Thankfully it did. She became a mother in 1981 and again in 1986. Jennifer loved her husband and her daughters with all of her being. In becoming a nurse, Jennifer found her true calling in life. She spent 23 years as the school nurse/surrogate mother at East Carter County Schools in Ellsinore, MO.
As a young woman, Jennifer loved riding horses with her dad, and camping and traveling with her family. She was an avid reader and could listen to music for hours on end. In later years, she enjoyed reading celebrity gossip magazines, taking road trips with Tom, and reconnecting with old friends and former students via social media.
Jennifer was a life-long animal lover, with a particular soft spot for cats. She will have many four-legged family members waiting for her on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
As a testament to her passions, Jennifer was overjoyed that one of her daughters became a neonatal intensive care nurse and the other a veterinarian. She was very proud of the life she built with her beloved Tom. She will be missed more than words can say.
Service arrangements for Jennifer Sue Chaligoj are as follows: All services will be held at the Doniphan Church of Christ, in Doniphan, Missouri. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, on Friday, February 21, 2020. Jennifer’s funeral service will begin at 12:00 pm, on Saturday, February 22, 2020; Gerald Fears, officiating. Burial will follow in the Macedonia Cemetery, in Doniphan.
The family asks that you consider making a donation to Children’s Homes in Paragould, AR (www.childrenhomes.org), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), or Second Chance animal rescue in Columbia, MO (www.columbia2ndchance.org), in memory of Jennifer.