Coeur d'Alene Press - The Daily Bee Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho <> Jennifer Dukovich, 29 Jennifer (Boyman) Dukovich, 29, went home to be with Jesus on Nov. 23, 2004. Born in Seattle on July 13, 1975, she moved to Coeur d'Alene in 1980. Jen excelled in the classroom as well as in track and field at Coeur d'Alene High School, graduating in 1993. She earned her bachelor's degree with honors in exercise science at Linfield College in Oregon. While attending, Jen competed in track and field and went to both Indoor and Outdoor Nationals in the hammer throw and discus. At Linfield, she met fellow track athlete Ron Dukovich, and after graduating, they married on Nov. 15, 1997. They made their home in Post Falls. Their son Jacob was born nine weeks premature on Nov. 5, 2002. Of the 56 days Jacob spent in the hospital, Jen never missed a day. She was a dedicated mother. Jacob was very special to her. Jen enjoyed hiking, backpacking, snowboarding and spending time with her friends and family. She also enjoyed and valued friendships she made while employed at XO Communications. On Oct. 27, 2003, Jen was diagnosed with lung cancer with no clinical risk factors. She was most concerned with how her battle with cancer would affect her family and those around her. Most people's first reaction would have been to ask, "Why me?" But Jen's response was "Why not me?" Her faith was strong and secured to the end. She was an inspiration to all of us, and her family hopes that they can live with as much strength and courage as she did. Jen and her family had just recently moved to Coeur d'Alene in October this year. She is survived by her husband Ron, son Jacob, brother Jeremy and wife Kristen, parents Art and Sandy Boyman, and parents-in-law Charlie and Sharon Dukovich, as well as many grandparents and great-grandparents. Memorial service will be 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Avenue, and a reception will follow at Yates Hayden Chapel Gathering Center. Memorials may be sent to Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 498, Kensington, MD 20895 or www.candlelighters.org. For more information on Jen's journey with cancer, please visit her Web site at jendukovich.com. Her web site will remain open as a living memorial, and we encourage all to visit and sign the guest book.