Obituary of Jennie E. Byram

Jennie Elizabeth Byram, of Morristown, entered into eternal life peacefully on Friday, January 22, 2021 surrounded by the love of her family. She was 34.

Jennie faced her valiant, five-year fight with cancer with courage, grace and dignity. She embraced life and love. She inspired everyone that knew her, and has left a legacy that will enrich her family and friends for many years to come.

Jennie was born in the Bronx, NY on October 24, 1986 and grew up in Butler, NJ with her loving parents, Anthony and Susan; brother, Cyle; and her grandmother, Lila. As a little girl, Jennie always dreamed of being a teacher. She was a 2005 graduate of Butler High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University.

Jennie was able to make her childhood dream come true and taught for seven years as a special education teacher in a one-to-one instruction setting for children with special needs. In Jennie’s last two years of teaching she co-taught first grade. She always felt fortunate to spend her teaching career at the Mary Kay McMillin Early Education Center in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Jennie first met her husband John Byram in 2006 and the two were inseparable. They were married on June 30, 2012 and enjoyed numerous trips to places such as Spain, Hilton Head and Florida. In 2014 Jennie and John welcomed their daughter Avery into the world. Jennie was a selfless and incredible mother.

In February 2015, Jennie returned to work and was living her dream as a wife, mother and teacher. However, in October 2015 she pulled a muscle in her back while at work and life slowly began changing. For three months she received x-rays, steroids and physical therapy. Then in 2016, Jennie insisted she be sent for an MRI because things just didn’t seem right with her health. She was losing feeling in her legs, running low grade fevers and wasn’t able to lift her 16 month-old daughter without being in pain. After a battery of tests on January 25, 2016 Jennie and John were informed that she had Stage IV breast cancer that had metastasized to her bones and was effecting her marrow.

Jennie like her usual self, remained strong and kept teaching while undergoing chemotherapy. The administration and staff of the Mary Kay McMillin School where she taught were incredible, extremely accommodating, and supportive of her and her family in any way possible. In a beautiful gesture of kindness, her fellow teachers at the school all donated their own sick days to Jennie so that she could benefit from them. In 2019, Jennie made a very tough decision to resign from teaching. She felt it was time to slow down and focus on her health and spend more time with family.

Jennie became more active in her daughter’s elementary school and started a new mission in raising awareness for the metastatic breast cancer research, support and awareness. Jennie became dedicated to raising awareness and support, as well as fundraising for other women suffering from metastatic breast cancer.

Throughout her illness and up to her final days, Jennie never complained or felt sorry for herself. She remained strong, positive and fought an incredible five-year battle. Jennie’s daughter Avery and husband John were a great source positivity, strength and inspiration for Jennie throughout her years of fighting cancer. Jennie was always there for her family. She was supportive and kept everyone positive - the way she always remained. Jennie did not lose her battle with cancer. She won her fight, triumphantly, vanquishing the disease by living her days fully, with bright eyes and a beautiful heart.

Jennie is survived by her devoted husband, John C. Byram of Morristown; her beautiful daughter, Avery Byram; her brother, Cyle Alonso and his wife Monica of North Bergen; her parents, Anthony and Susan Alonso; father-in-law, John G. Byram and his wife Christine, her mother-in-law, Jacqueline Byram; her maternal grandmother, Lila Shabman, and many dear friends and colleagues.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the visitation held at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 10:00AM at Assumption Church, 91 Maple Avenue, Morristown.. For those that wish, you may attend the Funeral Liturgy virtually via livestream by visiting www.assumptionparish.org and viewing the mass beginning at 10:00AM. Interment will follow at Holy Rood Cemetery, Morristown.

** Visitors to the funeral home and church are required to wear masks and adhere to proper social distancing. In order to maintain a safe number of people in the funeral home, we kindly and respectfully ask that after paying your respects you give others the same opportunity by making your visit brief.**

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that charitable contributions be made in Jennie’s memory to Metavivor, 1783 Forest Dr., #184, Annapolis, MD 21401