Maryellen Mealey

[ann]

Many of us have known Maryellen for a long time and I wanted to let you know that the following just appeared on my Facebook page.
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Everyone's who knows her & all @ Schawk, past and present, Maryellen Mealey needs your prayers
She is currently in the ICU at St. Joseph's clinging to life. If you aren't the praying type, please direct good thoughts, cosmic vibes, & sunshine her way

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I sent a message to the person who posted it explaining that many of us have known Maryellen for about 20 years. I asked if there was any way he'd feel comfortable with letting me know what's going on. Obviously, he has no idea who I am but, if he responds, I'll pass it along.

Does anyone have a closer connection to Maryellen? Anyone who may know someone closer to her who can find out what's happening?

[Jackie]

For those of you not on Facebook, Lowell posted the following in the JAD Forums. It was originally posted by ME's friend who made the original post about her condition.

Not wanting to go into details previously on FB, this is for those I don't know clamoring for details.

If you are squeamish, don't read any further and I apologize for putting this out to the world without asking Maryellen first (Sorry MEM; I know this would piss you off!)

I will tell you what I know:

Maryellen Mealey was found unresponsive, slumped over her computer (of course) in her apt. last Th.
She was found as a result of a wellness check when she did not show up to work last week after calling in sick Mon & Tues.
It is unknown how long she was there, but long enough to damage muscles.
She was taken to the ER and subsequently transferred to the ICU in critical condition.

She has pneumonia in both lungs & is in kidney/liver distress.
She is intubated with low blood O2, sedated & receiving multiple IVs for pain, infection and other problems, including medication to raise her BP which is not good. She is receiving dialysis now to help take the load off her kidneys.
She left no emergency contact information nor provided any when she was still conscious while I was there on Thursday.
You and she are stuck with me.
I have located & reached out to her sister in NJ and her family is now in contact with her Doctors.
I have been caring for her cat, Tabitha.

The hospital is doing all they can, but she is currently "critical and unstable" and only time will tell if she can pull through.
Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

I will remove this post as soon as enough people have relayed the message, as I know my good friend would

[Debby]

This is so damned sad. I feel bad that she was so ill and all alone for so long before being discovered. I hope she can recover soon.

Thankfully I saw online that one of her friends is caring for her cat. That's one of my hugest fears if something similar happened to me: that my dogs would perish.

[Judy]

Thanks for the info... I wish I could do something other than pray. This is one of the reasons on why I do not want to live totally alone. I would fear for Koji also. Prayers and healing thoughts to ME. {{{{{ME}}}}}

[dosqueen]

I heard that Maryellen is very ill. I know that all we can do is pray. The rest is up to Maryellen. If anyone thinks of anything else we can do - and that Maryellen would approve of, please post it.

[Kristy]

I just found this:

She's gone.

[Debby]

Heartbreaking.

[Nathalie]

I can't believe she is gone. Was she suffering from an illness I wasn't aware of? She is too young to go.

[dosqueen]

She was too young. She gave so much to so many.

[Judy]

My computer online only is really acting up – I hope it is because of all the e-filers with income tax that is causing the snafu…

I was thinking of ME of JAD. JAD of way back when. When we had Massa John, ME and Ray acting as MODS back then. There was also Caroline Mary.

Anyhow ME was quite nice to me – not giving me the sometimes hateful responses of CM and John. She saw that I would not be as bold as others, but I would respond on stuff I was passionate about. She sent me funny cards and I think was the originator of the exploding glitter card. I never laughed as hard as that – except when I was forever cleaning up that mess!

When 9-11 happened – we had up to the minute happenings from Banker Bob (Rogan) and his wife, Annette. They were in NJ letting us know.

One person that we did not hear too much about was ME. She had an apartment close by the disaster area. Fortunately she was not at home but traveling – and luckily not by air. I remember her tell that days later, she was allowed back into her apartment to get all she could - OUT. How horrific that had to have been for her.

From there, she sort of disappeared from my life – until I rediscovered her on fb and she accepted me into her fb family. I will miss you ME. I hope you have the peace you deserve.

[Drea]

Apr 18, 2016 22:56:23 GMT -5 Judy said:

When 9-11 happened – we had up to the minute happenings from Banker Bob (Rogan) and his wife, Annette. They were in NJ letting us know.

One person that we did not hear too much about was ME. She had an apartment close by the disaster area. Fortunately she was not at home but traveling – and luckily not by air. I remember her tell that days later, she was allowed back into her apartment to get all she could - OUT. How horrific that had to have been for her.

Maryellen lost her best friend (I believe that his name was Tom) in one of the twin towers on 9-11.  She rarely spoke about it, but it was indeed devastating for her.  She told me that she literally had to throw her cell phone away, because she couldn't deal with deleting so many of her local business contacts that had perished that day.

Maryellen was relatively quiet here at JAD, but she was amazingly thoughtful.  You're right, Judy; she often would send just the most perfect greeting cards - via snail mail, not e-cards - and they would arrive just when you needed them.

You will be dearly missed, my friend.

[davef]

Rest in peace dear ME!

[Shell]

I never had the pleasure of meeting Maryellen in person, but we often exchanged ideas about technical stuff, politics in the workplace and jointly railed about the glass ceiling/income disparity for women in IT. She would drop everything to help a friend in crisis, though many didn't appreciate or reciprocate the kindness which came straight from her heart. Quick wit and sarcasm only added to her personality.

Physical beauty is only skin deep, and I sincerely hope those who hurt or rejected her for not being their version of physical perfection face themselves in the mirror and learn to "Do Unto Others". This is intentionally vague, but you know who you are.

The world has lost a beautiful soul. RIP Maryellen.

[Jackie]

This is so heartbreaking. RIP Maryellen, Goddess of Nekkidland and sender of the exploding glitter cards. You will be missed.

[ann]

I'll always remember Maryellen's wonderful blogs, her tales about her travels were often hysterical. Despite her sometimes acerbic wit, she was a kind-hearted person with a beautiful soul. It's hard to understand the sadness that comes with losing someone you never even met.

Bless you, Maryellen, for touching our lives.

[kimmyg]

I'm sad, and no one outside this group understands. So many JAD inside jokes - like the bar fights in the dirtbag. It is a weird situation by other people's standards, but totally normal to us.
We miss you ME!

[mank]

Prayers for Mary Ellen's soul. How sad.

[Ben]

Prayers for all who grieve.

[Stan]

You are missed, as well, David.

Apr 19, 2016 21:04:17 GMT -5 David said:

If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have shed tears and sobbed telling Susie about your death. Yes, YOU, who once described me as someone you expected to be "meaner than a rattlesnake". You were taken aback that I mentioned that you scared me. Truth is, you were intimidating in person when I met you.

And now, suddenly, you're gone. You have been so good to so many people that I don't even know of, because that's just what you did. Damn, I miss the idea that you are still out there doing what you do. Rest in Peace, indeed.

I'm somewhat amused with the idea of Maryellen sitting somewhere scowling at all of us for making a big deal of things. I never encountered anyone that hated attention as much as she did.

[Nathalie]

Who's going to say and 'mean' Bah Humbug from now on?

[frodi]

Apr 21, 2016 16:08:13 GMT -5 Nathalie said:

Who's going to say and 'mean' Bah Humbug from now on?

We'll have to draw up a rota.

Now who's gonna do the rota? Oh wait ......

[Stan]

Just FYI,

I followed Maryellen to another forum back in the dark ages. There is a fundraiser and memorial service happening there in conjunction with her employer.

Maryellen Mealey

That would be only the second picture that I've ever seen of Maryellen, she's pissed.

[David]

Apr 21, 2016 16:08:13 GMT -5 Nathalie said:

Who's going to say and 'mean' Bah Humbug from now on?

I can do that if you need it done.