Jen’s memorial and celebration were streamed live for the many who — because of COVID-19, and other conflicts — could not attend. A big thank you to my sisters, nieces, brother, friends and family who made the physical and virtual memorial and celebration possible. Thank you Hollie and Emily.

Thank you to everyone for attending and for sharing your warm wishes and memories.

This is an unedited transcript of the live chats during both ceremonies.

Jen’s Tree Memorial
11:00 AM

Dit Rutland: Sad day, but I’m doing good. How about you?

Marty: Beautiful Fall day! Perfect!

Andrea: we love you Jen.

Barbara Sutliff: Hi Dit, so sad. Beautiful pictures.That’s the Jen we know and love.💔

Emily Pilgrim: Hi- Thank you all for joining, we need a few more minutes for them to set up at the location

Nevills: Happy memories while we sit

Emily Pilgrim: Please use this chat to share memories while we wait

Heidi: I love seeing her beautiful smile.

Kristin: I remember as a kid I would admire how beautiful Jen’s scrapbooks were. I would go through her scrapbooks for hours! I’ve always admired her for her creativity and the positivity and light that she always shed on us.

Jon Guttman: Good morning to you, too, Barbara. I still have some of my own photos to remember Jenny-V by, including three from the wedding.

Nevills: Remembering all the Canfield Fairs we shared together and making millions of lemonshakes 

Melissa Winn: I love to drink huge glasses of water with LOTS of ice in it. All day. Every day. At work I would always complain if the ice machine was out of ice. For Xmas last year she bought me a thermos cup that keeps the ice cold ALL DAY long so I would never have to go back for more ice during the day. I love that cup and told her all the time how awesome it is! When we had to start working from home this year because of Covid, I told her the one thing I had to make sure I brought home from the office was that cup! I made sure to fill it up and bring it to this ceremony. I’m using it now. Miss you dearly, Jennifer. 

Emily Pilgrim: Thank you all for patiently waiting. We will begin in approximately 5 min

Lanie Greene: jennifer is a person who you could never forget after meeting. Her personality was magnetic. 25 years of know her was just like family. we had great laughs some tear. Fondest memories how happy and excited that she was going to italy. Will miss her

Jon Guttman: Too bad Barbara Walters isn’t here to get Jennifer’s characteristically cool answer to the question, “If you could be a twee, what twee would you be?”

Heidi: The birdsong is beautiful.

Barbara Sutliff: the birds are singing for Jen

Shell: what a beautiful resting spot and bird song

Karen: Beautiful remembrance for a beautiful soul

bxm09: I may have lost touch over the years but Jen and Beth always will have a special place in my heart. love you cuz now and forever.

Jill Damiano: remembering all the wonderful holidays spent with Jennifer and Stephen at Carol and John’s home in New Middletown

Jill Damiano: what a glorious celebration for Jennifer.

Jon Guttman: With all respect to her place of origin, I suspect somewhere she’s thinking, “This sure beats Youngstown.”

Emily Pilgrim: Thank you all for joining us in this tree dedication to Jennifer. A beautiful tree for a beautiful person at a beautiful location. We love you Jennifer. I hope you all can join us a 2pm for the Celebration of Life.

bxm0: this with out a doubt will be the most beautiful tree in the park

Emily Pilgrim: This zoom link will open up about 1:45 for the Celebration of Life 

Barbara Sutliff: Thank you for sharing with us. Love you Jen

Jon Guttman: Give it a season or two. It’ll show us all.

bxm09: thank you

Jen’s Celebration of Life
2:00 PM

Jon Guttman: Fine. I’ve got my glass of Duplin Carolina red at the ready.

Barbara Sutliff to Nykea Hawkins (Privately): is there any way to turn down the music a little bit so we can hear the speaking better?

Nykea Hawkins to Barbara Sutliff (Privately): unfortunately there is another event at the venue and we don’t have control of that music

Jon Guttman: How sticky could Jennifer be? Last March as I and my poolmates were leaving the office I got one of those occasional urges to give her a goodbye hug around the neck. Soon after that we were all banished to our homes, from which we now do all our magazine production by internet. Last week it occurred to me: Jennifer Vann is still the last person to whom I gave a physical expression of affection. That’s a memory of the Covid-19 era that will “stick” to me as long as I live.

Barbara Sutliff to Nykea Hawkins (Privately): ah I understand. xo

Barbara Sutliff to Nykea Hawkins (Privately): just FYI when you were showing the speakers face more the sound was a little better. Maybe because I could see her lips moving though I don’t know!

Barbara Sutliff to Nykea Hawkins (Privately): ah better there actuallt

Nykea Hawkins to Barbara Sutliff (Privately): I’m trying to get them to face the mic and kind of block the background noise – but I’m not on site either so that’s hard to explain to them. 

Barbara Sutliff to Nykea Hawkins (Privately): oh sorry I thought you were there. it’s much better now. The young lady reading is doing a beautiful job. Thank you for helping share this. Being unable to hug people at a time like this makes everything harder.

Nykea Hawkins to Barbara Sutliff (Privately): No worries! thanks for the feedback! We want to make sure that everyone who loved Jen could share the virtual love. 

Barbara Sutliff to Nykea Hawkins (Privately): 💔❤️❤️

Barbara Sutliff: so true, why did editors always do that?!

bxm09: is it to late to say something

Nykea Hawkins to bxm09 (Privately): Not at all. I will unmute you in just a moment

Nykea Hawkins to bxm09 (Privately): sorry was trying to get the connection going

Nykea Hawkins: When they finish showing the table I will unmute anyone who would like to say something

Emily Pilgrim: unsure please 

Berry, Jennifer Elizabeth: Thank you so much for arranging this. It was so wonderful to hear all of the beautiful tributes and see all of the fabulous photographs of Jennifer. ❤️ I will miss her so much. ❤️

Jon Guttman: Unfortunately, Jenny-V, I have never been able to make myself heard from this machine of mine–I can hear them but they can’t hear me. That’s why I’ve had to rely on chat all the time.