Jana was the much loved daughter of Jeffrey and Judith Gilders McKnight. She married Timothy Caldwell and became the mother of Taylor, Jordan, Bailey, Timothy, and Blaize. She was a graduate of Anthony Wayne High School and her ambition was to be an English teacher. Jana wrote beautiful poetry. When her best friend, Janean Brown, was murdered, Jana spent many hours making posters, contacting radio and TV stations, and questioning the police trying to keep the murder of her best friend in the public eye and bring her murderer to justice. She died before she saw her efforts come to fruition and the perpetrator caught.

Jana fought ovarian cancer for six years, enduring many surgeries in the hopes of eradicating the disease, but it was not to be. She went peacefully and gracefully when the time was right, but it always seemed too soon to those of us she left behind.

During her memorial service, two eagles appeared and wheeled directly overhead in a cloudless blue sky.

Jana was cremated, and when we scattered her ashes, the wind caught them and blew them back toward us. Her eleven year old daughter said, "Look, Mom's giving us one last hug."

Beloved Grandparents:
William Gilders
Ruth Gilders
Robert McKnight
Helen McKnight
Best Friends Forever:
Janean Brown

To Jana
In the beginning,
I carried you beneath my heart,
And I thought
"How lucky your father and I are."

Before you could walk,
We carried you in our arms,
And I thought
"How lucky your father and I are."

As you were growing,
We saw in you our dreams,
And I thought
"How lucky your father and I are."

With your children,
We saw you contribute to eternity,
And I thought
"How lucky your father and I are."

Despite your illness,
You epitomized courage,
And I thought
"How brave and courageous you are."

Now, at the end,
I carry you in my heart,
And I think
"How lucky your father and I were."

Love Always, Mom