Jill Pigg drove a school bus for 50 years, always with this smile on her face! She was also the “Lunch Lady” for all the kindergarteners in the district for a time. Her sunny outlook on life, infectious laugh, and huge heart won people over where ever she went. Her daughter always described her as a “scrappy little fighter who wore rosy colored glasses”. The amazing nurses at the Cancer Center would flock to Jill’s room when they found out she had been admitted again. Her son said it was like Jill was a ROCKSTAR! Jill and the “Pill Fairy” bonded over “Jill’s Beans” ~ check it out on the Stories page.
Growing up on the farm, Jill learned the importance of family, hard work and equality. She learned that being a good person has nothing to do with what you look like and your genetics and everything to do with what is on the inside of you and how you treat people. Telling her she couldn’t do something was seen as a challenge, telling her she couldn’t do something “because she was a girl” was like waving a red flag in front of a bull!
Due to being height challenged, people at work started calling her “Shortie”, even her son-in-law! Jill would just laugh if off ~ she never let her height, her gender, or her lack of college degree hold her back. Jill took on any job she could when life was rough to support herself and her two kids. She was able to make ends meet because of the support of her family, friends and coworkers. Always paying it forward, Jill would mow lawns for some of her neighbors. “I don’t mind doing it, or I enjoy it” was always her answer when people asked her why she did things they thought were crazy behaviors. From fixing her tractor, repairing bus seats or sewing her daughter’s wedding dress, Jill could do it all!
Growing up, Jill thought she was a “boy” for the longest time. She hated wearing dresses and was very good at ripping off ruffles! Jill said making her daughter’s wedding dress was her punishment for all of those ripped ruffles, but it was really “lemonade”.
Along with “paying it forward”, Jill was a big believer in things happening for a reason and natural consequences – just ask the kids who egged her bus! She had them clean her bus during their recess so that everyone saw what happens when you make poor decisions. Jill patiently worked with new bus drivers, helping them improve their skills by sharing her “nuggets of wisdom”. She served as union president at Field Local Schools, working tirelessly to get the best conditions for her people that were reasonable for all.
Bill was the love of Jill’s life and they did everything together. They would play cards with the Linda’s, go gambling with Michelle, golfing trips with Dick and Shirley, go to their grandsons’ events (hockey, band, Scouts, etc.) , go out on “Lil Boat” or any other fun activity that struck their fancy! Jill knew that you didn’t have to have or spend a lot of money to enjoy life. She did love a good Garden Party…
After waiting months for a vaccine to be developed, Jill was set to finally get her first dose of the new COVID vaccine when she realized that something was really wrong, that she had something more than a sinus infection going on. In the early morning hours, Jill drove herself to the hospital even though she wasn’t feeling well, as she didn’t want to bother anyone – that included the EMS! That is when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Due to the pandemic and her immunocompromised status, Jill was not allowed visitors for the three weeks she stayed after first being diagnosed. During this time, she decided to sell her house to her next door neighbors that she had grown close to over the years. Jill was at peace with giving up her career and the house that she lived in for 45 years because it was what she had to do in order to be healthy, and she was paying it forward to Crystal and Kevin. When leaving the hospital from that first stay, she discovered she still had her bus keys in her pocket. Jill stopped by to hang up her keys for the last time on the way home.
Jill battled the leukemia like the “scrappy little fighter” she was. She decided to participate in a medical trial her amazing oncology team were running. She felt that anything the team learned would be “lemonade” to the lemons she was given. After her first bone marrow biopsy, Jill did not think she could handle the pain of going through that process every 3 months. She made the decision to drop out of the medical trial and was upset that she would no longer have that way of paying it forward.
Her treatment goal was to golf with her league that summer. Not only did she golf during her chemotherapy treatments, Jill and Sherry won the league…again! Jill was able to keep going because of the blood products she received from someone who donated that liquid gold. We are continuing the blood campaign in her name but there are many places where you can go to help out others in need. The campaign can be found at JillPiggPower Sleeves Up. Please consider helping with a blood drive as a volunteer if you are not able to donate blood. “Help” does not look the same for everyone so there are many ways to help support people.
On September 30, 2022, Field Local Schools honored Jill’s 50 years of service. Jill’s children were given a journal where friends and family shared their favorite memories of her. You can find some of those on the “Stories” page. Jill’s children are honoring her legacy through the mission of #JillPiggPower.
Make a difference ~ pass it on…
