Elgin woman's blog, faith inspired many

Janice Borndahl of Elgin served for 15 years as a facilitator for children at summer camps that offered programs in building self-esteem.

Because she loved working with children, Borndahl returned to school to get her teaching certificate, which she earned in 2007. She was not able to find a job teaching middle school or high school, but she was able to continue working with teens through her job as a driving instructor and at her church, Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights.

When the 2008 camp season arrived, Borndahl was able to work in Thailand because she worked for a large network of academic summer camps that offers an international experience.

While in Thailand in July, Borndahl discovered she had a mass in her spine. She returned to the U.S. in a wheelchair and lived with her sister in St. Charles while she was treated for melanoma that affected her brain, her spine and her lungs.

She died Nov. 20 at age 39.

"She was quite optimistic, right up to the end," said her sister, Cathy Kelley. "She had a lot of faith. When we realized how serious it was, I asked her if there was anything she wanted to do. She said, 'I'm going to heaven. What else would I want to do?' "

While she was ill, Borndahl wrote a blog (myrehabnotes.blogspot.com) that inspired many, according to her sister. In an Oct. 6 entry, she wrote about how red her face had become from the radiation and joked that she could be a cherry tomato for Halloween. She wrote about her faith as she endured more symptoms.

"She was an inspiration to everyone," Kelley said. "Many people read her blog. She was amazing throughout her entire illness."

"Her tagline for life was 'happy living,'" said her brother, Ray Wisbrock. "She looked for the best in people and the positive side. She lived her tagline."

Borndahl was born Sept. 10, 1969 and grew up in Elmhurst, the youngest of five children. She attended Immaculate Conception High School and later went to college in California. She also took classes at Elgin Community College after returning to Illinois. Borndahl worked as a Realtor and shared her business with her sister after she returned to school at Northern Illinois University to get her teaching certificate.

In addition to her sister and brother, Borndahl is survived by her father, Bert Wisbrock, brother Mark Wisbrock and sister Lynne Schneegas. She was preceded in death by her mother Phyllis.