Jennifer O'Connor
February 06, 2011
Jennifer Colleen O’Connor, 35, passed away February 6, 2011, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center.
Jennifer was born December 21, 1975, in Des Moines to Jerry and Marilyn O’Connor. She recently received her degree from DMACC in Early Childhood Education. Jennifer loved spending time with her children.
Jennifer is survived by her children, Quentin, Bryce and Olivia; parents, Jerry and Marilyn O’Connor; brother, Patrick O’Connor; step-sister, Cheryl Ann O’Connor; and a host of other extended relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Donald and Pauline O’Connor and Harold and Ruth Demmel; uncle, Gary Demmel; and her cousin, Jeffery Decker.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 10, 2011, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1100 S.E. Sharon Drive in Ankeny. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to her family for her children’s education funds, St. Paul Lutheran Church or American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be sent to:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Kate Halverson
02/14/2011
Jen was a student of mine at DMACC over 5 years ago and continued to stop by over the years to talk about kids with me when I started my family. My thoughts and prayers go out to her children and parents. Know that she loved you tremendously!!!
Joan Van Damme
02/11/2011
I am so sorry to hear of Jen's death. My heart & prayers are with her children and you and your husband and family. Jennier was a great inspiration and a wonderful MOM........Her kids were her life. She will be missed by so many and I will miss her and her funny jokes and smile so much. She made me laugh all the time. She was so brave through all the pain and suffering she endured. She fought very hard. I will miss her. Sending deepest sympathy and if there is anything I can do to help please let me know.
John Iwen
02/09/2011
Jerry and Marilyn,
I am very saddened to hear of Jennifer's passing. You were the best of neighbors, and I will remember you always.
John Iwen, Davenport,IA
Sheryl Barbour
02/09/2011
There is one perfect word to describe Jenn - PASSION! Everything she did was with passion, but most of all, she loved her children with so much passion, more than life itself. She is an inspiration to me! Jenn, you will be dearly missed. I regret that we never finalized a play date we kept talking about for Olivia and caelin. Maybe, in time, it will happen! God bless you and your family!
The Weiss Family
02/09/2011
Message:
Through the years and babies, we have grown to know Jennifer as a wonderful and caring spirit. Her love for fun and life is reflected through her children. Our kids are great friends and she always had time to stop and visit and we would talk about our children and how much in common we had raising. Quentin and Masson have been friends for years and I remember going in with Jen at a conference once and trying to figure out how we could keep our boys from getting in trouble for laughing in class. We couldn't blame them but we also knew it wasn't to be tolerated. Our home is always open to her family and kids. I will be sure share memories of their mom with them whenever they want to. We will truly miss seeing her around Polk City and school events and the neighborhood. Be at Peace, Jen, you will not be forgotten. God Bless. -from your friends, Tracee, Pete, Jesse, Masson and Madisson.
The Weiss Family
02/09/2011
Through the years and babies, we have grown to know Jennifer as a wonderful and caring spirit. Her love for fun and life is reflected through her children. Our kids are great friends and she always had time to stop and visit and we would talk about our children and how much in common we had raising. Quentin and Masson have been friends for years and I remember going in with Jen at a conference once and trying to figure out how we could keep our boys from getting in trouble for laughing in class. We couldn't blame them but we also knew it wasn't to be tolerated. Our home is always open to her family and kids. I will be sure share memories of their mom with them whenever they want to. We will truly miss seeing her around Polk City and school events and the neighborhood. Be at Peace, Jen, you will not be forgotten. God Bless.
Marjorie Leeper
02/09/2011
Marilyn & Family: I am so sorry to hear of your daughter's death. Please know my heart & prayers are with you. What a wonderful mother/grandmother you have been....and I'm sure a comfort to Jennifer and her children.
Words seem so inadequate at such a devastating time....
my sympathy and deepest regards.
Jan Bloes
02/09/2011
Jerry and Marilyn and Family:
My thoughts are with you. I am praying for you, and thinking of you.
Jillian
02/08/2011
Jennifer will be dearly missed. Her family is in my daily thoughts and prayers.
Diane Hilliard
02/08/2011
I will never forget All the great times Jennifer and I had attending DMACC, we were always each other's right hand "women" we always kept each other going although she seemed to keep me going more than me her at times.I remember the countless hours we would spend looking at clip art for school projects and the classes we we coordinate so we could take them together we had so much fun in Rudy Harris's classes Marriage and Family was one of them and we would get some GREAT conversations going within the class as she was always great at getting them going I will miss her dearly she was my best friend in the whole world she gave me inspiration to keep going as sometimes I wanted to give up on school she is an AWESOME person, mother, dear friend and I will forever hold her dear and close in my heart. As for her children she LOVES each one of them with every part of her she was always telling me about the things that they did on a daily basis all of the funny things that they did. I enjoyed going with her to take her as she called her "Little mommy" Olivia to school and how she cried the first day she went off to kindergarten.I can tell each one of her children that she LOVES them very much and wants nothing but the very best in life for them.
Jennifer I love you and will forever miss you
Love, Diane Hilliard
Kate Schulte
02/08/2011
Jen was one of the most unique people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was so full of life and love, she lived to make others around her happy. Over the past few years her and I have become so close. She was like a mom, sister, and best friend all in one. I could go to her for anything, much like alot of others could. She motivated me to do what I had to do to make my life happy and fullfilled. She worked so hard to go to school and get her degree it was such an inspiration to alot of people how hard she worked at it, meanwhile working part time and raising three amazing children. Jen loved her kids and was raising them to be some of the most respectfull polite children I've ever met. She was an amazing Mom, and friend...I will miss her so much, but will carry her spirit with me always!
Blake & Tara
02/08/2011
Jennifer will be missed by all who knew her. You could always count on her to make you laugh. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.
Delora J. Hade
02/08/2011
Jennifer's spunk, enthusiasm and determination were inspirational to many of our ECE students. She left a legacy for all of us about holding on to your dreams.
Our ECE family sends our sympathies for your loss.
Christy Lewis
02/08/2011
Our condolences go out to the family. Jennifer was a beautiful person and will be missed.
Rachel Fett (Linderman)
02/08/2011
I'm so sorry to hear the news about your loss. Your family is in my prayers!