January 26, 2012

Payette woman’s friends remember her with dance studio, school plaque

Nancy Johanek, nicknamed ‘Dancin’ Nancy’ died of cancer in 2007.

BY KATY MOELLER - kmoeller@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2012 Idaho Statesman

Nancy Johanek, nicknamed ‘Dancin’ Nancy’ died of cancer in 2007.

Nancy Johanek was about 17 weeks pregnant when she found a lump in her armpit. She’d also been having nausea on and off but attributed that to morning sickness.

The 20-year-old Treasure Valley Community College student, active in dance throughout high school, always had a high pain tolerance, said her mother, Cheryl Mason. She sought medical attention when her joints began to ache and she developed a fever.

The first doctor prescribed antibiotics.

“He said nothing about the lump. It was in a weird spot. Her blood work wasn’t showing anything at the time,” Mason said.

Within a couple of weeks, Nancy was admitted to St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise. She was diagnosed with anaplastic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“She refused to give up the baby in order for them to treat her, as strongly as they wanted to,” said Mason, whose daughter loved children. “She was not going to give up the baby for nothing.”

Johanek was engaged to her high school sweetheart. But she didn’t get to fulfill her dream of marriage or motherhood — she lost her baby and then her life a few weeks later.

Family and friends in her hometown of Payette have channeled some of their grief into keeping Johanek’s memory alive. On Friday, they plan to dedicate a dancing award in her honor at the high school.

Her friend Jackie Frazier, who was on the Payette High dance team with Johanek, started a dance studio in Fruitland in 2010. She said she woke up from a sound sleep one night with the idea to name the studio after her friend.

“I remember that we used to call her Dancin’ Nancy. It just stuck,” Frazier said. It was a nickname that Johanek, who began dancing at 4, had most of her life.

Frazier said Johanek had a special ability to connect with young dance students at a studio where they both taught jazz and ballet.

“It was a joy to watch her teach kids and watch them become graceful,” said Frazier, a certified K-12 teacher.

Frazier’s dance students — she now has about 50 — have done routines based on Johanek’s senior solo. They’ve also sold purple “Dancin’ Nancy” bracelets; released purple balloons at the end of the Christmas parade; and raised money for the American Cancer Society and Mountain States Tumor Institute.

Nancy’s mother will be at the ceremony Friday at the high school. She appreciates all the support she’s received from the community and her daughter’s friends.

“Jackie is just a gift from God,” Mason said. “She’s so selfless. She just gives and gives. I am amazed.”

Katy Moeller: 377-6413