Jaye Zessar was born in Chicago, however, she has lived in Bettendorf, Iowa for more than a decade.  She attended the University of Ilinois and married her husband, Bill. They have been married for 41 years!
 
Much of Jaye's life has been devoted to children.  She has three of her own: Marcia, Rick, and Sara whom she remained home with during their childhood. She also held various teaching positions.  She has participated in volunteer activities such as the PTA, Board of Education, Head Start, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Child Abuse Prevention Council.
 
While Jaye always had a special place in her heart for parents experiencing child death, she learned firsthand the despair it caused when her daughter, Marcia, and her husband, Joe, lost their first child, Zachary, to stillbirth on March 26, 1997.  Zachary's death was sudden and unexpected after a textbook perfect pregnancy. Jaye and her husband mourned, not only for the loss of their precious, first grandchild, but also for the overwhelming sorrow of his parents.  They had no idea how to help Marcia and Joe cope. 
 
The Zessar's became involved in promoting bereavement materials through the March of Dimes and funded the development of a packet containing sensitively written materials and resources for grieving families (available through MoD 888.MoDimes).
 
Jaye is actively supporting stillbirth education and research. She wants to find the causes of stillbirth and ways to prevent the tragedy.  Jaye is delighted to work with the MISS Foundation and believes that through concerted, cooperative efforts, progress will be made in prevention of stillbirth as well as other infant and child deaths.
 

jaye@missfoundation.org