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renate

(13,776 posts)
Thu Nov 7, 2013, 07:12 PM Nov 2013

IL State Rep. Jakobssen left son's hospice to vote on the marriage equality bill--it passed, he died

Last edited Fri Nov 8, 2013, 06:10 PM - Edit history (1)

I posted this yesterday with a different heading and it sank like a stone, twice, but I'm going to try again because it's such an inspirational and moving example of heartfelt public service. The marriage equality bill passed, but it was a squeaker: only one vote to spare. That vote was Rep. Jakobssen's, and while she was away from her son's bedside, he died. She left him knowing that might happen. I can't imagine what that goodbye would have been like... to think that she had to be gone from her son's deathbed solely in order to counteract the votes of people who think that people who love each other shouldn't be allowed to marry. So unfair.


It's a sad time for the family of State Representative Naomi Jakobsson and her husband Eric, who is an Urbana alderman.

Their son, 46 year-old Garret Jakobsson, has passed away. He died Tuesday night in Mattoon in hospice care. Funeral services for Garret, who is one of the couple's eight children, are pending.

Representative Jakobsson left her son's side Tuesday to drive to Springfield to vote on gay marriage legislation. After the vote, she told the WDWS news department that the House was trying to wait for her to arrive before voting on the measure. But Jakobsson said she felt that there was enough support for the bill even if she was unable to make it to Springfield on time.

Jakobsson was the only local lawmaker from the House to vote yes on the gay marriage bill.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-11-06/rep-jakobssons-son-passes-away-day-same-sex-marriage-vote.html

[She got back to the hospice ten minutes after he died:]

“Everything was a little surreal,” said state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, one of Jakobsson’s close friends in the chamber.

“She had left this environment that she’d been in, kind of a waiting vigil at her son’s bedside, to come here,” Feigenholtz said. “When she looked at me [Tuesday], she said, ‘He could die while I’m here,’ and that’s exactly what happened.

“He passed away, from what I heard, 10 minutes prior to her arriving back at his nursing home,” she said.

http://www.suntimes.com/23584689-761/tears-of-sadness-joy-shed-in-wake-of-historic-same-sex-marriage-vote.html

Thank you so much for your courage and your sacrifice, Representative Jakobssen.

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IL State Rep. Jakobssen left son's hospice to vote on the marriage equality bill--it passed, he died (Original Post) renate Nov 2013 OP
kick, because this woman is a heroine renate Nov 2013 #1
one last kick n/t renate Nov 2013 #2
K & R malaise Nov 2013 #3
so beautiful and so sad La Lioness Priyanka Nov 2013 #4
Wow. Thank you Rep Jakobssen. n/t BeeBee Nov 2013 #5
She shouldn't feel bad...he was waiting to be alone to die... joeybee12 Nov 2013 #6
Thank you for posting this again. I wouldn't have known. DevonRex Nov 2013 #7
So, so sad...it's terrible. Poor dear...but it could have happened any time. I was asleep when CTyankee Nov 2013 #8
Wow. I'm choked up reading this. City Lights Nov 2013 #9
Thank you for posting this. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #10
this is so sad dsc Nov 2013 #11
what a wonderful person JI7 Nov 2013 #12
K&R Cadfael Nov 2013 #13
Oh my! kentuck Nov 2013 #14

renate

(13,776 posts)
1. kick, because this woman is a heroine
Thu Nov 7, 2013, 09:13 PM
Nov 2013

I'm a little embarrassed to kick this, but it's not for me, it's for her.

 

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)
6. She shouldn't feel bad...he was waiting to be alone to die...
Fri Nov 8, 2013, 06:17 PM
Nov 2013

Forget Hollywood where everyone is around the bed at the last moment, those dying want to go alone...if she had gone to the bathroom he might have chosen that time. RIP.

DevonRex

(22,541 posts)
7. Thank you for posting this again. I wouldn't have known.
Fri Nov 8, 2013, 06:51 PM
Nov 2013

it made me cry. I know just how sad that must have been for her. And how difficult.

CTyankee

(63,771 posts)
8. So, so sad...it's terrible. Poor dear...but it could have happened any time. I was asleep when
Fri Nov 8, 2013, 06:56 PM
Nov 2013

my mother died in the middle of the night...but I had held her hand and whispered that I was there while she was fading into unconsciousness...I am just so grateful that it was a peaceful and gentle passing for her. I hope the same for Rep. Jakobsson's son...

dsc

(52,130 posts)
11. this is so sad
Fri Nov 8, 2013, 07:00 PM
Nov 2013

I can't believe that no one could lend her a plane which might have made the difference.

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