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Pregnant woman drowns in Outer Banks rip current

Posted at 12:30 PM, Jul 30, 2012
and last updated 2012-07-30 15:05:55-04

SALEM Va. (WTVR) – A celebration of life for Jill Bailey Chenet was held Monday morning at Our Lady of the Nazareth Catholic Church in Roanoke. Chenet, a Salem native, died last week while on vacation in the Outer Banks with her husband Matt, reported WDBJ7 in Roanoke.

Chenet, who was pregnant with the couple’s first child, was enjoying one last vacation before her little girl was born in November. But during a walk on the beach, the couple fell off a sandbar and got swept into the water. They were pulled from the water nearly 30 minutes later.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Jill Chenet, 31, was pronounced dead after being taken by helicopter to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia. Her husband Matthew, 37, was hospitalized. He has since been released from the hospital, according to WDBJ7.

"Write a note to somebody, pick up the telephone because you might not have that chance again. She did that, she wrote us little notes all the time," Jill's father Jack told WDBJ7.

A scholarship in Jill's name has been established at the River School in Washington, DC to help underprivileged children.