Services for Jovie Jean DeFrang
Saturday, April 20, 2019, Jovie Jean DeFrang, passed away after her hard fought battle with Congenital Heart Disease at the age of 2 years, 2 months and 24 days. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26th, at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital Chapel in Minneapolis. A graveside service will be held at a later date in McIntosh, MN where Jovie will be laid to rest next to her Grandma Sandra. Please continue to follow Jovie Jean's Journey and Legacy at https://www.facebook.com/Joviejeansjourney/. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be sent in care of the Jovie Jean DeFrang family, 704 3rd Street NE, Fosston, MN 56542. Arrangements are with the Carlin Funeral Home, serving McIntosh.
Jovie Jean was born on January 28, 2017, at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, MN to mother Lindsie DeFrang. Together they made a home at the Ronald McDonald House and the hospital, during Jovie's many days as a patient.
Jovie's heart was diagnosed with a balanced atrioventricular canal defect, large atrial septal defect, Interrupted aortic arch, a bicuspid aortic valve with left ventricular outflow tract hypoplasia and interrupted inferior vena cava with azygous continuation. She was also diagnosed with heterotaxy and malrotation. From her birth, her team of medical professionals always referred to her anatomy as one of a kind.
She received multiple medical treatments at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital and the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Even though she was born with a very sick heart, it never stopped her from sharing her love with so many people. With a twinkle in her eye and a contagious smile, she melted the hearts of all her visitors.
During her stay, Jovie enjoyed many visits from various members of the University of Minnesota Athletics, as well as the Kyle Rudolph Family and the Minnesota Vikings. One of Jovie's first experiences out of the hospital was a small concert with Kat Perkins at the Ronald McDonald House.
Jovie loved to be read her books, listen to music with therapy and watch Disney movies, especially Moana. She also loved going for walks in her stroller around the Ronald McDonald House, chewing on all her medical tubing and setting off her pulse oximeter. Her favorite place to be though was in the arms of her loving mother.
Jovie earned well over 4,200 beads from the Beads of Courage program. One bead for every surgery, procedure and special moment during her hospital stay.
She is survived by her mother, her Godparents, Ashley Hauf, Jesse and Danielle Bremer, Brianna and Skyler Neva and Devan Eull, as well as many honorary hospital and RMH family members.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Sandra; her friends, Peyton, Mikey, Sloane, Max, Kristina, Manuel, Liam, Oliver and Nathalia.
Honorary Pallbearers are Jovie's honorary cousins, and hospital and RMH family; Tristan and Patrick, Miranda and Tessa, Eddie, Jazzy and Malakai, Ashlyn and Owen, Tyler and Christian, Emmy and Abbie, Kenzie, Abbey, Carson and Gretta, Xander, Briar, Emmah and Corah, The Robbins Clan, Lola, Henery, Liam, Tal and Parker, and the Marinelli Crew.
