Jennifer Renkel

Jennifer suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall and passed with her siblings and niece surrounding her. The skies turned grey, and it rained as if weeping, followed that evening by a beautiful sunset as I imagined her spirit free.

Jennifer was born July 8, 1959 the fifth child of seven children to Janice L. and David S. Jorgensen.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Janice and Dave Jorgensen, her brother and sister-in-law, Jerold David and Cathy Lyn Jorgensen, and her husband Mark Renkel. Jennifer is survived by her first husband Michael C. Ford and their son Jeremy C. Ford, her siblings, Karen Raemer, Julie (Gary) Willden, Jeffery L. Jorgensen, Kirstie Jorgensen, and Jon “Ziggy” (Amber) Jorgensen and her nieces and nephews whom she loved so much, Hillary, Vanessa, Keegan, Charlie, Jason, Alyssa and Alex, her little monsters.

Jennifer was a free spirit, a prankster, a joker, a loving mother, fun sister, and a nurturing soul. She loved smiling and making others smile, giggling, and shared many adventures. She felt lonely without loved ones near or talking with daily.

She had three true loves, her greatest love for her son Jeremy, her first husband Michael and her last, Mark.  She loved her family, her friends, and every child and every animal. She loved all of us in our worst, in our brokenness, never wavering, her love will be with us always.

Her greatest joy was her son, and her next was making someone smile and sharing a story. Your story will carry on Jenifer, in the love you gave to the lives you touched.

Many called her broken when life had broken her. She accepted everyone. One who never judged, who loved hearing laughter, compassionate, giving smiles and loved knowing people and their stories and sharing her own. Not one to speak unkind words or intentionally causing pain, only wanting to bring joy, even when she herself was in pain and shunned herself. She was not broken; she was a beautiful being.

The most beautiful gift one could give Jennifer, Julie, you have given her, to allow another to see through her rose-colored lenses, to allow her to bring joy one last time, to someone who will be allowed to see the beauty she saw in the world, in all of us. Jennifer’s eyes are donated to give the gift of sight to another would make her so happy.

This is how I remember Jennifer. My sister

A celebration of Jennifer’s life will be held Saturday, May 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Luther Church located at 3900 South 2500 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84124  oslcslc.org

Cremation provided by Independent Funeral Services