JILL BUFFINGTON 
Oct. 26, 1987 – Sept. 15, 2016
Beautiful, genuine, joyful, dedicated, unique, intelligent, devoted, inviting, traveler, familyoriented, spirited, driven, kind, cinephile, patient, loving, witty, adventurous and positive were words that each of Jill Buffington’s nursing school classmates chose to describe her during a vigil held on a rainy Friday evening in September. Within 30 hours of hearing that one of their own passed, Jill’s 19 classmates coordinated a vigil which took place at the Dove Conference Center at St. John’s Hospital. Being educators ourselves, my wife, Rosemary, and I have worked with hundreds of students, and we both believe that we have never met a class of students who worked so well together. Their loving kindness and support was shown recently when they put together a trivia night to raise funds for a scholarship in Jill’s name through the St. John’s Hospital Foundation.
Jill’s closest friends were friends that Jill knew would be lifelong friends forever. In kindergarten, a classmate was standing alone. On a card this friend sent to Rosemary and me, she made the loving statement that Jill came up to her and said, “Do you want to be my friend?” This girl became one of the closest friends Jill had in her short life. Another girl moved to Springfield and entered Sacred Heart-Griffin High School not knowing one person in the building. She felt alone, and upon entering an English class, was asked to choose partners for a class assignment. Jill went over and asked this girl to join her group. Again, this friend was a lifelong friend.
Losing a daughter is not the expected norm in any household. Children are to be raised to understand good from evil, love from hate, and work from laziness. Through her grade school education at Christ the King and high school education at Sacred Heart-Griffin, Jill was wellprepared to enter Louisiana State University and become a scholar. Jill accomplished yet another milestone in her life when she was invited to do her graduate study at George Washington University. She devoted her educational study to the way she was taught to study and learn in her early childhood education.
Jill had a loving relationship with mom and dad. She was included in our lives while traveling, understanding art, learning about performance and Broadway, and watching so many movies. Jill was always able to instantly find the answer to any question on her cellphone. The Yankees, the Broncos and the Blue Devils were three of her favorite teams. While attending LSU, she turned the whole family into Tigers fans. Great teams, winning records and national championships were all part of Jill’s exciting four college years. Her two-year graduate study in D.C. provided enriching experiences with culture and the history of our great nation.
Dad and Jill shared a passion for attending baseball games in all major league ballparks. The two of us, along with mom, actually made it to 22 of the 30 parks. For Rosemary and I, having the opportunity to travel our world with Jill by our sides opened our minds to so many lifestyles, cultural styles and food tastings throughout. More than 20 countries were visited, creating great, enriching experiences, and upon return, Jill came home and designed a scrapbook for each trip.
Her friends will never forget her. Mom and dad will continue to hold a light in our heart for every moment we had with our precious daughter. We have been overwhelmed with love and support from so many of Jill’s friends. May each of you be blessed for giving us part of your warm heart forever. –Rod Buffington, father
