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ST. CHARLES, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
After fighting insurance.and cancer, 19 year old CJ Aubuchon passed away this weekend. The St. Charles teenager's death came just days before a huge fundraiser for his favorite charity, and they played on, knowing that is what CJ wanted. CJ's family was not at the golf tournament in Weldon Spring, but they believe CJ was.
"He's everywhere now," says CJ's sister Michelle Aubuchon. "He always will be."
Michelle was at her grandmother's home Monday afternoon, practicing the music she and friends will sing at CJ's memorial. She will always vividly remember watching her brother take his final breath. And she will always remember the strength he showed for a 14 month long fight.
"I think there's peace in knowing that he doesn't suffer anymore. His passing was a peaceful, gentlemanly way of going, which is very C.J.," says Michelle.
And it is very "CJ" to care about others, when he was the one with cancer. Perhaps he still cares so much he gave his favorite charity a gorgeous day for golf.
"This is incredible!" says Judy Ciapciak, the Executive Director of Friends of Kids with Cancer, describing the beautiful sunshine and perfect temperature for the Monday golf tournament. "You know what I know someone's responsible. CJ helped us so much make this day beautiful and it's just how he would've wanted it to be for us, and we are so thankful to him."
CJ Aubuchon lived just 19 years and more than 17 were cancer free, but the last 14 months showed his true self: a loving, giving, quiet fighter. Cancer kept CJ from going to college, so the charity Friends of Kids with Cancer made CJ's room into a college dorm with a recliner, refrigerator and big screen television. The idea came from CJ's nurse, Mandy.
Judy recalls the email she got describing CJ's request. "I don't think I knew how serious it was, but when Mandy asked about the 42 inch TV and she said, 'He'll even give it back when he's done with it'. That, that was a first. You know. I thought kid is special."
CJ knew death would take him so he wanted the TV to go to someone else. Even while fighting cancer, CJ kept giving. Friends of Kids with Cancer did too. Giving is CJ's way. And the charity's way, too.
"For Christmas, CJ got me two concert tickets to go see Kristen Chenoweth, and they were from Friends of Kids with Cancer," says Michelle. "It's an organization that sticks by the person the whole entire time."
Ciapciak says it's wonderful to hear a family describe the difference they made.
"I think what's so unique about us is we focus on the kids and that family unit," says Ciapciak.
The golf tournament brought more than 200 golfers together, at Whitmoor Country Club. 17 year old Taylor Rozier, a cancer patient herself, helped give out ice cream to golfers.
"It's amazing to think all those people would take a day out from their job, and actually doing something for such a great organization," says Rozier. "They give me hope."
17 year old Brooke Nickelson is a junior at Clayton High School, who just finished radiation, after enduring three rounds of chemo. "They are such a great foundation," he says. "All the money donated to them is used strictly through he programing. They have done so much for my family and me, with the parties they throw every year, gifts I've been given like gift cards."
"These are the people I draw strength from," says Nickelson of the charity.
The golf tournament was scheduled for May 18 for months. May 16, CJ's fight ended.
"I was just inside and someone said, 'You know Judy, you just look drained today,'" says Ciapciak. "As happy as I am with the weather and the success of the tournament there's that underlying tow that is inside you that you are sad."
Michelle and her family are, too. But they are calmed by a presence they know they will always feel.
"I think the best way to celebrate someone's passing is to live your life the best you can," says Michelle. "He would be very proud of what we're doing right now and what we'll continue to do, and he'll always be here. I'll always be the big sister."
CJ's wake is scheduled for Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m at Baue Funeral Home, 620 Jefferson Street in Old St. Charles. The Aubuchon family is not calling it a funeral but instead a "celebration of life" service Wednesday at 10 a.m, also at Baue on Jefferson.
"He's everywhere now," says CJ's sister Michelle Aubuchon. "He always will be."
Michelle was at her grandmother's home Monday afternoon, practicing the music she and friends will sing at CJ's memorial. She will always vividly remember watching her brother take his final breath. And she will always remember the strength he showed for a 14 month long fight.
"I think there's peace in knowing that he doesn't suffer anymore. His passing was a peaceful, gentlemanly way of going, which is very C.J.," says Michelle.
And it is very "CJ" to care about others, when he was the one with cancer. Perhaps he still cares so much he gave his favorite charity a gorgeous day for golf.
"This is incredible!" says Judy Ciapciak, the Executive Director of Friends of Kids with Cancer, describing the beautiful sunshine and perfect temperature for the Monday golf tournament. "You know what I know someone's responsible. CJ helped us so much make this day beautiful and it's just how he would've wanted it to be for us, and we are so thankful to him."
CJ Aubuchon lived just 19 years and more than 17 were cancer free, but the last 14 months showed his true self: a loving, giving, quiet fighter. Cancer kept CJ from going to college, so the charity Friends of Kids with Cancer made CJ's room into a college dorm with a recliner, refrigerator and big screen television. The idea came from CJ's nurse, Mandy.
Judy recalls the email she got describing CJ's request. "I don't think I knew how serious it was, but when Mandy asked about the 42 inch TV and she said, 'He'll even give it back when he's done with it'. That, that was a first. You know. I thought kid is special."
CJ knew death would take him so he wanted the TV to go to someone else. Even while fighting cancer, CJ kept giving. Friends of Kids with Cancer did too. Giving is CJ's way. And the charity's way, too.
"For Christmas, CJ got me two concert tickets to go see Kristen Chenoweth, and they were from Friends of Kids with Cancer," says Michelle. "It's an organization that sticks by the person the whole entire time."
Ciapciak says it's wonderful to hear a family describe the difference they made.
"I think what's so unique about us is we focus on the kids and that family unit," says Ciapciak.
The golf tournament brought more than 200 golfers together, at Whitmoor Country Club. 17 year old Taylor Rozier, a cancer patient herself, helped give out ice cream to golfers.
"It's amazing to think all those people would take a day out from their job, and actually doing something for such a great organization," says Rozier. "They give me hope."
17 year old Brooke Nickelson is a junior at Clayton High School, who just finished radiation, after enduring three rounds of chemo. "They are such a great foundation," he says. "All the money donated to them is used strictly through he programing. They have done so much for my family and me, with the parties they throw every year, gifts I've been given like gift cards."
"These are the people I draw strength from," says Nickelson of the charity.
The golf tournament was scheduled for May 18 for months. May 16, CJ's fight ended.
"I was just inside and someone said, 'You know Judy, you just look drained today,'" says Ciapciak. "As happy as I am with the weather and the success of the tournament there's that underlying tow that is inside you that you are sad."
Michelle and her family are, too. But they are calmed by a presence they know they will always feel.
"I think the best way to celebrate someone's passing is to live your life the best you can," says Michelle. "He would be very proud of what we're doing right now and what we'll continue to do, and he'll always be here. I'll always be the big sister."
CJ's wake is scheduled for Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m at Baue Funeral Home, 620 Jefferson Street in Old St. Charles. The Aubuchon family is not calling it a funeral but instead a "celebration of life" service Wednesday at 10 a.m, also at Baue on Jefferson.
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