Abigail Jensen

Abigail Marie Jensen, 5, received her angel wings while in her daddy's arms Sunday, July 24, 2011, following a yearlong battle with brain cancer. Princess Abby's final days were spent at home in Oak Ridge surrounded by family and special friends who loved and will always love her dearly.

Abby was born Dec. 28, 2005, at Cape Girardeau. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jackson Branch.

Abby's life may have seemed very short, but she was able to touch the lives and hearts of so many during her time here. No one who met her will ever forget her amethyst blue eyes and huge smile. From the time she was a very small child she loved to make others laugh with her silly faces and was a natural comedienne. As her illness took away her ability to do things for herself, she still managed to swipe food from her mother's plate and once, on an unplanned trip to the hospital, she smashed an iced cupcake on her forehead and then pretended she didn't know what she had done, fooling everyone in the car into thinking she was serious.

Princess Abby possessed an iron core that was hidden until she became ill. She was a child who possessed strength, patience, perseverance and faith that is rare in adults. To everyone who came in contact with her -- family, friends, and strangers alike -- she was a joy and an inspiration. Abigail loved going to church and almost before she could see over the pew she would stand with an open hymn book propped in front of her and sing and direct the music during the hymns. She loved the missionaries from her church and was a great missionary herself, standing to bear her testimony of Jesus Christ and the truth of the restored gospel in front of the congregation at every opportunity. She loved going to Sunday school and meeting with her friends and teachers in Primary.

Abby, being a true princess, surrounded herself with everything pink and lavender. She often dressed in princess dresses and accessorized with tiaras and "jewels." Possibly her most exciting moment was meeting and spending time with the Disney Princesses and Prince Charming at Disney World last spring and one of her greatest dreams came true when the Prince kissed her hand and spent one-on-one time with her, thanks to the great folks at Make-A-Wish. She was also able to see another dream realized when her family took her to the beach and she was able to swim in the ocean and play in the sand with her sisters. At the other end of the spectrum, Abigail was an avid SpongeBob SquarePants fan and was on the Oak Ridge T-ball team, receiving a trophy for Most Valuable Player of 2011. She looked forward to starting kindergarten at Oak Ridge this fall. She enjoyed coloring, dancing with Mary-Beth, playing dress up with Emily, going to the zoo, camping, and the Magic House. Her greatest joy of late was being big sister to her youngest sister, Sara Mae. They loved each other dearly and spent lots of time cuddling and napping together. When no one else could quiet Sara, Abby could.

AbigaiI is survived by her parents, Jonathan Marc and Maegan Elizabeth Jensen of Oak Ridge; sisters, Mary-Elizabeth, Emily Kathleen and Sara Mae; paternal grandparents, Arnold and Linda Jensen of Florissant, Mo.; maternal grandparents, Brian F. and Mary Hopkins Miller of Oak Ridge; uncles, David and Fleur Jensen of Winnemucca, Nev., Bob and Colista Jensen of Spanish Fork, Utah, Michael Jensen of Florissant, Bryan Miller of Fort Myers, Fla.; aunt Amber and Bob Ludwig of Fruitland; cousins Sabrina, Jessica, Brayden, Ellary, Aedin and Maliya Jensen, B.J., Bradley and Jesse Miller and Carson Ludwig; and many sweet and very special friends.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Curtis Arnold Jensen.

Visitation is to be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau.

A celebration of Abigail's life will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Branch President Richard Owens of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jackson Branch conducting. Dedication of the grave and interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

As Abigail's life is one to be celebrated, her parents ask for those who love her to wear bright and happy colors to her service and for there to be more smiles than tears. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family.

To read about Abby's journey to heaven, you are invited to read her father's blog at WhenAbbySmiles.blogspot.com.

Online condolences may be made at www, fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.