I've been blessed to know Jenny for about 21 years. She was the best friend a girl could have. She had an incredible soul and there are endless stories of both her amazingly kind heart and her hilarious antics and fun personality.

Born on March 20th, 1980 in Santa Clarita, California, Jenny spent most of her formative years with her Grandparents, Laureen and Johnny. She was the apple of her Grandma’s eye and loved playing with her dolls. Jenny took her dolls everywhere. She also loved driving her grandpa’s boat and going fishing with her dad, Danny. ­

I met Jenny at Castaic Middle School, but the best stories come out of high school. When we weren’t busy talking, we were getting lost on random drives or planning parties.  Jenny was a great party planner. She loved throwing themed parties. Boy did she get me good at my16th birthday. My mom said no when I asked for a party, so I secretly planned a surprise party. My mom was mad, and got me back by conspiring with Jenny who made everything pink (a color I hated) and put my baby pics on everything! Which still wasn’t as hilarious as her 16th birthday party where she made all the boys wear formal dresses. And yes, we have photos!

Another of Jenny’s antics? Missions! Many of which involved cars. Once, to teach a friend to lock his car, she had us pack the car with balloons and then saran wrapped the entire car. I doubt many escaped the TP or saran wrapped car from Jen. This was not just high school. In fact just last year I woke up to a Tp’d car and front door.

Jenny also loved to dress up and go dancing. Once on St. Patty’s she was determined to find a place to dance, but her town didn’t have any real dance clubs. We went to three different places until she finally decided she’d just make her own dance floor at a local pub with music.

 After moving to Hawaii, Jen would visit and that’s when we made regular midnight Walmart runs a tradition. We were goofballs laughing all over the store. Shopping with her was awesome, as I’m sure any one of her girlfriends knows. In fact, Jenny didn’t need changing rooms...she would try things on over her clothes. She didn’t care what people thought. This is one of my favorite things I learned from her. Oh, and of course with any visit there had to be a In & Out and Weinersniztel run.

Hawaii was Jen’s real home. She loved the beach (even if she never went in) and loved the local animal farm. Actually, Jen just loved animals and animals loved her . In fact, anywhere I have ever known Jenny to live, she had to have a cat, or two, or four!

When Jen moved to Japan she quickly settled into base life and was always busy whether learning Hula, teaching English to Japanese students, running the Girl Scout troop, dressing up for military balls or hanging at the Onsen (a Japanese bath house or spa). She also loved baking for just about everything.  She’s the only woman I know who has 3, yes 3 cupcake carriers able to carry 108 cupcakes!

When Jenny moved back to Hawaii they decorated the apartment in all pink and red. Jenny LOVED red. They also sectioned off almost a third of the living room for a “craft room”, a love of Jens. An Easter egg hunt flyer brought her and the girls to her church, where she began volunteering and quickly made new friends.  She also got involved with Zumba and loved it!

Jenny made friends fast and left an amazing first impression. After her passing, one could read numerous Facebook posts of her kindness, and how when people first met her, she jumped in with both feet like a heroine ready to save you. If you needed help she was there. If you needed an ear she'd give great advice and give it to you straight. If you didn’t want to hear the truth..don't ask! .

The most amazing gift Jen gave to this world is her beautiful daughters. Chloe and Lucy are strong, amazing, giving and loving, just like her. She loved her girls more than anything. No matter what they went through they got through it together.

Just last year Jenny and her girls fell in love with the Disney movie, Brave, because that’s what they were...that, and obsessed with Disney. Jenny always found fun ways to dress Lucy and Chloe up as their favorite characters. And if they were in California, they had to go to Disneyland, their favorite place. Or the Disney Soda Fountain Store, where they once finished off a huge hat full of 8 scoops of ice cream (they have a pin to prove it!!).

Jenny was an amazing mother, daughter and, granddaughter. She loved her family and friends. There just isn’t time to tell you all the amazing stories about her but make sure to ask and share them if you have them, because they’re bound to warm your heart.

Her amazing spirit and love lives on through her two beautiful daughters, Lucy and Chloe, her mom Kelly, dad Danny, husband Kyle, papa Crash, stepmom Sandi and grandparents Laureen and John. I know we will all spread a little of Jenny’s aloha and she will live on through us all.

A light has gone out; without so much as a flicker, and all we have left; is the precious memory of how brightly it burned; and the warmth it gave us.

All my love,
Jodie Lea Ranzinger