Cheryl Russell

It is with profound sadness that we announce that Cheryl Russell, formerly of Hollis, NH, passed away at the age of 63, on Monday, December 16, 2024, in Cape Coral, Florida, from complications from Lupus.

Cheryl was born on April 13, 1961, in Milford, CT, to Jack and Linda Russell. She spent her elementary and middle school years in Billerica, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston where she was sociable, outgoing and feisty. By her high school years her family moved to Hollis, New Hampshire, a more rural town, where she thought things would be difficult. Instead, she found a deeply welcoming community of friends including Dale, Diane, Bonnie, Sandy, Terry, Tim, Laurel, Chuck, and so many more, whose friendships have endured to this day.

After high school, Cheryl travelled the world. She lived in San Diego, California for a time, and travelled to Germany, England, and across Europe, and lived in the Middle East where she worked as a nurse’s assistant, where her father, Jack Russell, was a private pilot to the Sheik of Abu Dabi in the United Arab Emirates. She eventually returned to New England where she met Steve Jzyk, with whom she had three amazing boys.

But in her mid-twenties, Cheryl began to experience fatigue, muscle pain, rashes, dizziness, and other symptoms which perplexed all of her doctors. She spent years going from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist trying to figure out what was wrong, but to no avail. She eventually landed at the Lahey Clinic, in Burlington Massachusetts, where she hoped for a diagnosis from the leading experts for innovative and groundbreaking medical treatments. Instead, they too were confounded. Eventually, after years of tests, misdiagnosis, and trial and error, Cheryl was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE); an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy cells and tissues.

For most of her adult life, Cheryl fought the good fight as one does with a chronic disease. There were good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks, and in the early 2000’s, the strain on her vital organs was too much and she underwent a successful kidney transplant, courtesy of her sister Pam. For the next few decades Cheryl became a fierce champion for herself and the Lupus community where she became a social administrator, creating space and encouraging, listening, supporting, championing and giving hope to thousands of her fellow Lupus warriors whose battles she understood all too well.

Despite her physical setbacks, Cheryl’s gift was in her agreement with life. She woke every morning determined not to let Lupus define her. She reached out to her community every day to see how she could help, she doted on her family despite her own physical suffering, she took care of her mother Linda, and anyone else who she thought could use a little light. For decades, Lupus was simply no match for a fighter like her.

But her greatest gift, and her biggest joy in life were her boys: Jarrad, Jeremie, and Jamison Jzyk. Three extraordinary boys who she was lucky enough to watch grow into caring, devoted, and amazing young men. Her world revolved around taking care of them and making sure they could take care of themselves. Her love for her sons was deep, enduring, and unbreakable.

She was a proud mama bear who couldn’t have asked for more. Cheryl also leaves behind a family she adored, including her father, Jack Russell, her stepmother, Cindy Johnson of Mims, FL, and her mother, Linda Dall Travers of Cape Coral; along with her three amazing boys, Jarrad Jzyk, Jeremie Jzyk also of Cape Coral, and Jamison Jzyk of Mims; as well as her two sisters, Pamela August Russell of Los Angeles, CA, and Lise Russell of Belmont, NH.

Through her trials and tribulations, Cheryl touched so many lives. We will always remember her hearty laughter, her quick humor, her energy, devotion, inspiration and the kindness she showered on so many people. She will be deeply missed. We wish her godspeed and grace into eternity. Rest in peace sweet angel warrior. You are loved.

A Celebration of Life for Cheryl will be held on January 4^th, 2025 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at: Junglebird, 1520 Lafayette St., Cape Coral, Florida, 33904.

There will also be a Celebration of Life and burial ceremony for our east coast family and friends in May of 2025 in New Hampshire. Details to be announced via www.MullinsMemorial.com

Cheryl was also a fierce champion and supporter of Lupus research. As of today, there is no known cure. We’d be honored if you would consider a donation in her name to help improve and extend the lives of those living with lupus. Here’s how you can help:

https://www.lupus.org/?form=FUNRTGVASPJ&s_subsrc=button_nav_donate&s_src=region_SE

https://www.lupus.org/about-us

https://give.lupusresearch.org/give/640264/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1Km7BhC9ARIsAFZfEItNk_b6wojdSKbNdY6Yc8mN290bjAQs3zKGGLQsHi5A-SvtIAlu1nMaAt18EALw_wcB#!/donation/checkout?c_src=A24121W1A

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fort Myers, is entrusted with final care.