Nicole Has Won!
Nicole Lynne Bodjanac, 22, went home to be with the Lord on February 26, 2007. Nicole was a 2002 graduate of Norton High School and a graduate of Radiography School through Akron Children’s Hospital. She was a member of Norton Apostolic Christian Church.
Nicole loved people and always had a smile on her face. She had a strong faith and always believed “Either way, I win!” Through her illness, she wanted others to come to know Christ.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Robert Dolfen and is survived by her loving and devoted husband Rick; parents, Paul and Cindy Webel; brother, Paul (Sarah) Webel, Jr.; sisters, Renee and Danielle Webel; grandparents, Reinhardt and Arlene Webel and Betty Dolfen and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Friends may call at Bacher Funeral Home (map) on Thursday, March 1, 2007 from 2 to 4 and 5 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 2, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at Norton Apostolic Christian Church (map) with Pastor Jeremy Jivan officiating. Interment will take place at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Stehlin Foundation for DSRCT Cancer Research
1315 St. Joseph Parkway, Suite 1818
Houston, TX 77002
Cancer free, at last. It was strange to be so far away for an entire chapter in my family’s story … but even from here, it was hard to miss the beauty and grace and significance of it all. You can read Nicole’s story for yourself at her blog.
Nicole always brought out the best in everyone around her, and I was particularly prone to being infected by her laughter. It will be good to see her again one day.
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
March 1st, 2007 at 6:49 pm EST
Thank you Lance. Pray for us as we face the hardest thing we’ve ever done….
March 1st, 2007 at 7:50 pm EST
That’s saying a lot, Paul. My prayers are heavenbound.
March 2nd, 2007 at 4:26 pm EST
How I wish I could have met her… my heart is heavy as I read this news…
Love,
Erica
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:43 pm EST
We are all praying for our dear family back home as the funeral day approaches. It is hard to be so far away but we are close in spirit and love for our suffering kin. WE LOVE YOU AND FEEL YOUR PAIN.
March 4th, 2007 at 5:11 pm EST
The whole Wagner family is praying for you, Paul
God bless
March 5th, 2007 at 1:14 pm EST
Thanks for the prayers directed our way. The hardest part is now coming for Rick & Paul & Cindy’s family. For the past week or so, the Webel family has come together to remember, laugh, cry, sing around the piano, pray, eat, worship, and enjoy Nicole bringing us together. We’ve celebrated Nicole’s victory–remembering her “Either Way, I Win!” motto. As we all go back to our normal lives, many will be grieving and a lot more lonely now that we’re not all together. I wish you could have shared this time with us!
March 10th, 2008 at 2:18 am EST
Dear Paul and Cindy -
I had no idea that your family was going through such a difficult time . . . I am truly saddened by your loss . . . parents should never have to find themselves in this place.
I’m not quite sure how I found this website . . . I believe that stumbling on it was involved. I was googling the ‘Webel’ name to see what popped up . . . and I found myself here.
I also visited Nicole’s blog . . . what an amazing young woman she was . . . I saw the photos she posted . . . your whole family has grown up to become handsome adults . . . and I’m sure they have wonderful spirits to match.
A lot more time has passed than I thought . . . if you would like to drop me a note that would be welcome . . . l-oster8@neo.rr.com
May G-d bless your entire family . . .
Lori