DENVER -- Jana Elway-Sever, twin sister of former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, has died after a battle with cancer.

Elway-Sever died Tuesday at Stanford Hospital in Stanford, Calif. She was 42.

It was the second death in the family in 15 months. Jack Elway, the twins' father, died April 15, 2001, of an apparent heart attack.

The news came about a month after Janet and John Elway acknowledged they were separating.

"John, in the the standard of humanity on earth -- he's had a tough couple of years,'' Broncos spokesman Jim Saccomano said.

Jana and John were born June 28, 1960, in Port Angeles, Wash., 18 months after their sister, Lee Ann.

"I like to tell people I got married, had a honeymoon for 18 months, and then all hell broke loose the next 18,'' Jack Elway said in an interview years ago. "But having the twins was such a thrill, and all of the kids, being so close to the same age, developed a special bond.''

John and Jana were especially close as toddlers.

"Even as little kids, I can remember John crawling on the floor by himself and looking around to see where Jana was and crawling right over to her,'' Jack said. "And then the two of them would start jabbering at each other in that special language twins have.''

The family also lived in Missoula, Mont., and Pullman, Wash., before settling in southern California while Jack pursued various coaching jobs.

Jana and John both attended Stanford, where she played tennis. She later became a teaching pro and also was a schoolteacher.

She was married to Al Sever and had two children, Joe and Dana.