Last Wishes

From The Capital Times of Madison, Wisconsin:

Jane Buffett tried desperately to live until Nov. 2 so she could vote for John Kerry.

She lost that fight, but her husband and sons continued the battle in her obituary.

Jane died Sept. 25 at age 64 after a long struggle with multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks bones from the inside.

"She really wanted to live to this election and vote. I kept promising her that as soon as the absentee ballots were printed, we would get her one," said Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who became choked up talking about her friend of 30 years.

"She always helped with my campaigns, even when she was very ill. She took it upon herself to be a positive source of energy and confidence for me. I was very affected by her death, and even more by her life."Jane Buffett's obituary in Madison newspapers said:

"Jane was outraged that any politician who would cut back cancer treatment options for Social Security recipients, who would invade a foreign country and then expect her grandchildren to pay the bills, could claim to be a 'compassionate conservative.' Once he became the nominee, she saw John Kerry as the candidate who would most conserve everything she valued. Jane fought to live long enough to be able to vote this November. To honor her memory, please do everything you can to elect John Kerry."

Her husband, Roger Buffett, said that he and sons Perry and Carl decided to include that language.

"Jane and I did not sit down to write an obituary," Roger said, adding, however, that "she was ecstatic about Sally Baron's obituary last year."

Baron was a Stoughton woman whose obituary in August 2003 said that "memorials in her honor can be made to any organization working for the removal of President Bush."

Jane Buffett "was disgusted that a few thousand young people would have to give their lives so people can run around in big vehicles," her husband said. "Now we have an oil crisis and tax breaks for people who drive Hummers. She was incensed. So as the boys and I worked on the obituary, it was a natural. They said, 'This is what Mom really wanted.' "

Jane suffered with multiple myeloma for 8 years.