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It's been said that a parent should never have to bury a child, but for one local family, that situation has been a sorrowful reality more than once.

Chuck and Kathy Anderson of Jamestown have said goodbye to three of their children since 1976, most recently their son Jon.

The culprit in in each case was Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic disease which is inherited and affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States.

Although neither Kathy nor Chuck actually have the disease, they both have the dominant gene which makes it probable that their children will inherit Cystic Fibrosis.

To help Jon's parents with the costs of his passing, Dan Keefe, a family friend, has organized a benefit event Sunday at Shawbucks.

CARRYING CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Back in the 1970s when Chuck and Kathy started their family, genetic testing was more science fiction than reality.

''The chances of two carriers actually marrying is highly improbable,'' Kathy said. ''We had several relatives die in the past from what was thought to be pneumonia and it was probably actually Cystic Fibrosis.''

Jon passed away on Sept. 8, more than 11 years after he received a lung transplant. Jon's fraternal twin Ron, however, has never tested positive for the disease, demonstrating the odd nature of genetically transferred conditions.

''After Jon got the transplant, he felt better and he was able to travel and do the things he wanted to do,'' Chuck said. ''He just wanted to be like everyone else and he never let his illness get him down. He was a true fighter.''

Chuck and Kathy also said that Jon was not the kind of person who would waste his time consumed by negative thoughts or by speaking badly of others. They described him as just the opposite.

''He was a happy, go-lucky person who never complained,'' Kathy said.

Chuck added, ''He even maintained great friendships with all of his ex-girlfriends, something the divorcing public could take a lesson from.''

A FIGHTING AND

FRIENDLY SPIRIT

Jon's parents credit his relatively long life to his fighting spirit and the increase in medical treatments available in the modern day. They explained that to simply diagnose the disease in the '70s, an invasive and complex process was the means whereas today, a saliva test can give a positive or negative reading.

''He had 11 good years after the transplant,'' Chuck said. ''He loved to spend time with his friends and just hang out. I know they meant a lot to him.''

Jon's parents said that he always lived his life to the fullest and loved to be the center of attention in any room. It was through that spirit that he met singer-songwriter Jackson Rohm at a local watering hole a decade ago.

While performing at The Village Casino in Bemus Point in the mid-1990s, somebody shouted out a request to Rohm for ''If I Had A Million Dollars'' by the Barenaked Ladies. Rohm explained to the crowd that the song was a duet and that he would need someone else to sing the second part. That's when John stepped right up on stage and said that he had it covered.

''Jon made a lasting impression on me and the entire audience at the Casino that night,'' Rohm said recently of his close friend.

Returning to Jamestown for the benefit, Rohm will play Shawbucks on Sunday with the Porcelain Bus Drivers.

''Jon sang many times with me since then and always managed to steal the show,'' Rohm said. ''He was fearless when it came to singing in front of others and also in his lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis. He's been an inspiration to me and a true friend. He's probably attended between 300 and 400 of my shows over the past 10 years. ''

Jon's friend Dan Keefe took it upon himself to put together Sunday's event not only in honor of Jon, but to help Kathy and Chuck recoup some of the extensive costs they have incurred since Jon's passing. They explained that toward the end of his life, he was unable to go to work and lost his medical coverage. They also said no one would sell him a life insurance policy, so all terminal costs which weren't covered by Medicare, were shouldered by Kathy and Chuck.

For more information or to buy tickets ahead of time, contact Dan Keefe by calling 640-6315 or Kathy Roehm by calling 488-0083 or stop by Shawbucks. To read the full interview with Rohm, visit ''The Dean's List'' blog at www.post-journal.com.

Features Reporter Nicholas L. Dean contributed to this story.