As with all of you, all of the Quacker Factory family was shocked and saddened when we learned of Jeanne’s passing on June 10. There are so many unanswered questions and everyone struggling to know why she was taken from us far too soon. Many of you have written to me on Facebook, and have shared your condolences. Thank you for that. And many more of you have made suggestions as to why she passed. Many of you have said that God needed her in heaven for a bigger purpose, that her work here on earth was complete. Or maybe it is because He needs her to sparkle & shine in the heavens. And even that her headband is now the sparkliest halo in heaven.
I know that Jeanne would want us to celebrate her zest for life, not mourn her death. We cannot forget how many times she picked herself up by her bra straps and kept on going. In the last year when Jeanne’s brother was dying of a brain tumor & her best friend was dying from cancer—she never let her grief show while she was on the air at QVC. She so loved hearing from all of the Quackers & she took great joy in hearing your stories and learning of your excitement over her Quacker fashions.
What can I say about the amazing, incomparable Jeanne Bice? She was my friend, my mentor, and my Fairy Godmother. Just today I imagined the Disney movie-Cinderella and the character—Fairy Godmother. If you ask me, it was Jeanne, only with white hair & a cloak instead of a headband. Well she was my Fairy Godmother.
For those of you who don’t know our story, let me fill you in. I met Jeanne while modeling at QVC. I did her shows many, many times, and always enjoyed a fun conversation before or after the show. I hadn’t yet developed a true friendship with her. A few years back all of the models received an invitation to join Jeanne & her family on an evening cruise & party to celebrate her 10th anniversary at QVC. I was the only model who was able to attend. My sister Vickie joined me on the trip, and we had a ball. We met everyone who worked with Jeanne, we even got invited to her home. Can I tell you, I was in shock when I saw Jeanne without her headband for the first time, it just didn’t seem right!! And after that weekend, our friendship started to grow.
Soon after that weekend, Jeanne invited me out to dinner and asked if I would like to do her makeup before the shows. She felt that as she had gotten older, she needed a little “more pink in her cheeks”. I admired her so much, I was happy to oblige. Now she could have had the makeup artists at QVC do it for her, but she asked me! Over the many hours of getting her ready for her shows, we developed a wonderful friendship. One day when I was doing her makeup, I told her that I was losing my part time job because I was freelance, and the company was eliminating those positions. I told her that I was just getting ready to buy a house, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. Well a few days later, Jeanne called me and said—“Angel, I have a job for you”. I was going to begin working with Susan and the design team. Do you see—FAIRY GODMOTHER!! I learned a lot of the business from the back end while working with Susan and the front end while modeling. It was a wonderful experience that lead me to where I am today.
Many of you have stated that Jeanne knew what she was doing when she picked me to be her back up guest. I think you are all correct. Jeanne was a very smart lady, and a shrewd business woman. She meant so much to so many people. All we can do is celebrate her life & how she touched ours.
A few months ago I heard the song “Firework” from Katy Perry and I immediately thought of Jeanne. I sent her the link to the video on YouTube because I wanted her to hear it. The words are what Jeanne taught us every day. “There’s a spark in you, you gotta ignite the light, & let it shine. Just own the night, like the fourth of July, cause baby you’re a firework, come on show em what you’re worth, make em go aww, aww, aww as you shoot across the sky. Baby you’re a firework, come on let your colors burst.” Jeanne of course used—“when you wear a star you’ll feel like a star”, but you get the idea. The other night Glen & I were watching a fireworks display at his house, and I thought of Jeanne the entire time. Her colors were bursting in the air and I knew that she will always be in my heart, even though we will all miss her here on earth.
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