Remembering Kari

Kari left Us on December 28, 2007
She was 38 years old.
Its been a week and a day, and I am just beginning to organize my thoughts.

There are Memorial services coming right up.First on January 12 in Hanford.Then in Arcata on Saturday,Jan 19th.(Mad river.The Park at the Pump station.)Address and time to be announced here.

I Imagine Using this Space first as a convenient way to post information regarding these events,and also as a forum to share pictures,thoughts,and stories about Kari.

Thank You All for Your Kindness and Support.Lets please keep in touch.

Here is the piece Kari's Mother wrote for the Paper.A challenge well met.Thank You.



Kari Anne (Peterson) Jacobson

January 21, 1969 – December 28, 2007


Kari Jacobson passed into her next life December 28, 2007 at the age of 38.

She was born January 21, 1969, in Fresno, CA, to Marilyn and Ron Peterson of Hanford, CA. She married Tom Jacobson, on June 21, 1998 in Arcata, CA.

He was the love of her life and had been since they were in high school.

They made their home in Arcata/Eureka, CA since 1989.

Kari graduated from Hanford High School in 1987 and worked as a cosmetologist to help put herself through college. She attended College of the Sequoias and then transferred to Humboldt State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

She worked with young people in an Upward Bound program, teaching and guiding them through a visual arts program. Their exhibits were exciting and vibrant and healing for the young participants.

When diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 32, she began a difficult and challenging time. Throughout all of it, Tom was with her with love and support. She said she wanted to “make a difference” and she did.

Between the times of her treatments, she spoke to women’s groups, was on radio and television with information for women that ovarian cancer was not “silent” and they could take an active part in their treatments, something she had learned to do. She was always available to help others in her area – where you could go for a second opinion, what new treatments were available - and was very involved in support groups in Arcata, and walked many Relays for Life.

In her private life, she and Tom enjoyed many wonderful times camping,

spending quality time together, practicing Aikido (a martial art-the “Art of Peace”), doing art and craft projects, she loved gardening and always she loved her animals, the kitties and her very special dog, Bella.

Kari will be missed by all of us, family, friends, and folks all over the country with whom she kept in touch through email and phone calls.

Kari is survived by her husband, Tom, her mother and father, Marilyn and Ron Peterson, sister Kris and husband, Arnie Olson, Tom’s mother and father, Sharon and Wally Jacobson, aunts and uncles, Joyce and Ken Harris, Junell and Dick Peterson, Shirley and John Scudder, Janet Saric, cousins and

many, many friends.

Tom’s family – Kari brought so much joy to the Thomas Ohana family. She enlightened all our lives with her wonderful positive attitude and unrelenting courage. We were so happy to have her here last September in NM to celebrate Tom’s Grandfather Thomas’s 85th birthday along with his Grammie Myra. Aunts and Uncles, Joannie and Chet, Gary and Barbara loved having Kari in their lives.

We will have a memorial gathering at our home, Ron and Marilyn Peterson’s, 2038 Emma Lee Lane, Hanford, on Saturday, January 12, 2008 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent “In Kari’s Memory” to the Humboldt Community Breast & Gynecologic Health Project at 987 8th Street, Arcata, CA 95521.

This was one of her favorite quotes:

“Life is Short, Love is Real, Trust your Heart, What you Feel, Live your Life,

Sing your Song, Make it Sweet, and Make it STRONG!”