Senior Jana Novak passed away suddenly on Friday, January 9.
Time and time again, we have been told that the friends we have made here at Fairfield will be our friends for life. The friends who help us through the rough transition to post-grad life, the ones we’d move across the country with, the ones who hold our hands through breakups, and hold our hair back when the night at the bar got a little out of hand. Our Fairfield friends are our bridesmaids and groomsmen, the ones to hold our newborn babies, the ones to cheer us on when we finally get promoted to that senior level position. Our Fairfield friends are our confidants and soulmates, the people who make these four years worthwhile.
Jana embodied everything that anyone could ever want in a friend. She supported those she loved unconditionally, and believed in them blindly. If she was your friend, she was your biggest fan, and never doubted what amazing things you were capable of. She was your boost of confidence on a bad day, the person who thought that you were the best no matter what. If she loved you, she showed you just how much she did each and every day.
Jana was no angel though, and it would be a disservice to her incredible life to paint her as such. She was the one to go to with your reckless ideas. If you were worried something you were going to do wasn’t quite the “right thing,” Jana was the one who would push those thoughts aside and tell you to go forth. For every statement of kindness and compassion she put forth into the world, she had a biting truth she wasn’t afraid to speak either. This is what made her so special—her admirable honesty and her powerful love didn’t rival each other. They existed in harmony, and made her into the most extraordinary, irreplaceable friend.
Jana’s intelligence was unrivaled. She had the ability to understand things in a way that you would have never encountered before. Her life was deliberate, her moves were calculated, her words well-thought out. Conversation with her could often leave you questioning yourself, yet grateful for her fresh input. Jana was sharp, perceptive, and highly logical. While this certainly attributed to her sometimes infuriating stubbornness, it was her extraordinary brainpower that made her light shine even brighter.
Her absence from our world is painful and palpable. Yet all the same, her enduring presence is powerful and unable to be ignored. Jana was not a religious person, but that doesn’t mean her spirit isn’t still with us. She loved and was loved in return, and this is what makes her life everlasting. As long as she is remembered, her existence will not be forgotten. And she will not be forgotten.
When you look at the sunset, think of Jana. Think of her when you light up a cigarette, or when you put on your favorite flannel shirt. Think of her when you pass a tattoo shop, or admire any ink you may already have upon your body. Think of her when you’re having a bad day and suddenly your favorite song comes up on shuffle. Think of her when you see a Subaru Outback, or when you get a McChicken at the McDonald’s drive through. Think of her when you finally yell at that guy who really, really needed to be put in his place. Think of her when you witness someone standing up for those who need a voice, and think of her when you need the courage to be that voice. Think of her when you are surrounded by your own Fairfield friends, and when you tell them how much they mean to you, while you still have the opportunity to do so.
Think of Jana, and find your inner strength. Think of Jana, and she will be right there.
Editors note: The author of this article is one of Jana’s closest friends.