Jill Cermak Pence, M.D.

Ms. Jill Cermak Pence M.D. passed away at her home in Winston-Salem on January 7, 2016.
Dr. Pence was born May 6, 1957 in Novato, CA. She was the daughter of Paula and Jim Cermak.

Jill spent her childhood in Novato, CA and was a very active child who participated in numerous sports and activities. Dr. Pence was an avid swimmer and a member of her high school team for four years. She excelled in ballroom dancing, and partnered with her brother Steve to win numerous competitions.

Dr. Pence graduated from Novato High school and went on to attend the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in Cellular Biology and graduated with high honors. She moved to Winston-Salem in 1980 to attend Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Pence graduated in 1984 and was included in the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society. Dr. Pence stayed in Winston-Salem to finish her medical education and became a board certified doctor in Internal Medicine in 1985.

Since 1987, Dr. Pence has served the Winston-Salem community as a primary care physician for her beloved patients. Dr. Pence was a true ""old school"" doctor who cared about patients as people. Many in the community have been seeing Dr. Pence for decades and they were as much friends as patients to her.

Dr. Pence was an avid gardener and loved bringing color into her yard every season. She enjoyed sailing, snow skiing, and travel. In her life she got to see much of the world.

Jill was a wonderful mother and always put family first. She is survived by her sons, Cameron and Casey Pence, her parents, Jim and Paula Cermak, her brothers, Steve and Todd (wife Jane) Cermak, and niece Maria and nephew Ben. She is also survived by her fiancé, John Hart, and her ex-husband, John Pence.

A celebration of Jill's life will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 1 pm at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. The family will receive friends Friday, January 15, 2016 from 5 - 8 pm at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel, as well as immediately following the service on Saturday.

Dr. Pence loved all animals, especially her dogs, Cinder and Moo Moo. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Forsyth Humane Society at www.forsythhumane.org/donate.

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