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Christopher John Steffan
1965 – 2001
Submitted by: Janet Steffan

My husband, my best friend, my lover, the father of our two precious children. When Chris was 19 years old he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He had surgery and radiation treatments to eradicate the disease. The surgery and radiation were successful and Chris carried on as if nothing bad was happening. He had an amazing spirit and it is that which kept him carrying on. We discovered our love for each other was beyond friendship and married in 1991. Two beautiful little girls, Shannon and Kelsey, were the result of our love.

Chris’ patience and compassion helped me deal with my father’s death to cancer. I returned the favour to him the following year when his father passed. In the Fall of 2000 Chris was diagnosed with esophagus/stomach cancer. It seems the radiation from his treatments at 19 were the cause of this current cancer. Seventeen years to reproduce. Seventeen years in which we fell in love, he had a family of his own, shared so much with his family and friends. Chris had successful surgery and then chemotherapy for four months. Unfortunately by the end of the summer of 2001 he was not doing well. The cancer had returned and it was coming back with a vengence. Chris spent six weeks in the hospital prior to his death. He prepared us all for his death. His biggest worry was the children and I, how we would carry on. Not once did he grieve for himself, that’s just the way he was, so selfless. We gave him a wonderful going away party in which his family and closest friends attended. He was suffering in great pain at the time of this party but his amazing spirit allowed him to visit and have a smile for everybody.

Chris passed away October 15, 2001, holding my hand and surrounded by his mother and mine. I told him to go and be with his two fathers. I know he is golfing with his father in the afterlife and there are many others that have loved him that are there with him. I feel his presence often and know that he watches over our two girls, Shannon, 10 and Kelsey, 6.
Thank you for dedicating this ride to the most amazing soul I’ve ever had the privledge of knowing. Cancer never beat his spirit or his love. I know he’s been rewarded for that.