Support Jenn Buell's kids after mom's death

Update 3/23: Obituary (please share)

Jennifer Lynn Buell was larger than life. Never one to shrink into a corner, she expressed her joyful faith in God and humanity in her big voice, room-filling laugh, and ability to see and know people as they came into her circle. A passionate mom, first, Jenn walked the challenging road of single motherhood after the tragic and sudden loss of the love of her life, Kraig. Jenn's beloved children, Jarod, Ryan, Kati, and L, brought her purpose, surprise, adventure, growth, and joy in a myriad ways as she celebrated their achievements, championed them through challenges, and delighted in the ways they came into their own. Gone way too soon, Jennifer leaves behind a gutted family and a devastated circle of sisters and friends.

Born Jennifer Lynn Bauman on June 7, 1972, to Margaret (Brown) and Dale Bauman, the oldest of three girls, Jenn made the world her stage. As a theatre and communications major at North Central Bible College (now University) in Minneapolis, Jenn shone in roles both on stage, and behind the scenes. She was known for her willingness to dive in and dedicate herself to planning, executing, and excelling at whatever she put her mind to - even with her signature "creative" organizational style. She met her husband, Kraig, at college, and used her energy and talents to put together a summer wedding on a shoestring budget. The friends she made during her university years remained - a testament to how Jenn's magnetism "collected" the very best people in a big world.

Jenn and Kraig lived in Minnesota, North Dakota, California and Rapid City, South Dakota, where Kraig led church youth groups and pastored and Jenn raised three kids, close in age, and then their delightful surprise, L, six years younger. Jenn often spoke of the ways the broader community of Christ-followers surrounded her and her kids when Kraig died of a heart attack in 2013. Jenn was an avid speaker and encourager of women, participant in local MOPS ministries, and a welcome face and embrace at her church. In 2018, Jenn gave a TEDx talk calling her audience to be "specific" in their offerings of support. Her lessons of how to show up, receive help, offer assistance, and tune in to needs had a wide impact - touching single mothers, parents of disabled children, and widows alike. She enjoyed being a "Band Mom," "Special Olympics Mom," and "Theatre Mom" and even took to the stage, again, as part of the cast at Black Hills Community Theatre.

In 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Jenn made the courageous choice to move to Denver, Colorado with Ryan and L. Her desire to "shake up" her life and live with even more faith and boldness was honored and blessed by God's provision of an incredible church family - Discovery - where Jenn felt impactful, enveloped, and energetic. It is never easy to start over, and Jenn brought her signature "weird" sense of humor, ability to make all strangers into fast friends, and desire for her kids' to see an inclusive expression of faith to her big move. Jenn was proud of her son Jarod's film degree from University of New Mexico. She enjoyed helping with and celebrating daughter Kati's wedding to Sevyn in October 2022 - and had fun with the Star Wars theme! She was excited for Ryan's exercise of independence and looked forward to seeing him continue to thrive. Jenn's delight in her child, L, and their unique expression of faith, creativity, and music, was evident to anyone she met.

When Jenn was hospitalized at the end of January, the diagnosis was shocking. "This is the cancer the doctors' speak of in terms of weeks or months," she told friends. And despite a brutal prognosis and impossible timeframe, Jenn set out to do all she could with her one wild life. Stories of her impact during her stays at Swedish Hospital's Medical Oncology unit and the "family" she became part of at Tru Hospice in Longmont continue to stream in. Jenn didn't just greet the housekeeper, mopping the floor, she practiced her Spanish, asked questions, and made a friend. She encouraged CNAs to continue their education. She thanked every doctor, nurse, med aide, PCT, and transport tech who touched her during her last two months on the planet - continuing to widen her circle and make every stranger a friend. Jenn spent her final weeks ensuring her kids were well planned for and cared for. She entrusted her church family, sisters of longevity, and family of origin to respect and honor her children's identities, wishes, and ambitions. She spoke life into each of those she was leaving behind. She was pampered, honored, cared for, and alive in the love of her final stage caregivers and sisters of faith, Renae, Carrie, Monica, Jolene, and Natalie, who advocated for her dignity, voice, and comfort as she died.

Jenn joins her great love, Kraig L. Buell, in the glory of, "Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant”. She is proceeded in death by her stillborn baby brother, Jeremy Jay Bauman, and her grandparents, Norman & Lula Bauman and Paul & Jayne Brown.

She is survived by her sons Jarod and Ryan, daughter Kati (Buell-Leombruno) and son-in-law Sevyn, and youngest, L, as well as her mother, Margaret & her husband Nelson, father Dale and his wife Christinia, sisters Bethany (Bauman) Bayes & Chad, Alisha (Bauman) Cooke & James, and Kraig's parents, Linda & Teddi Ellsworth, brother David Ellsworth, sister Lisa (Peldo) & Derek, and nieces and nephews Anthony, Evan, Cassandra, Blake, Isabella, Gwyneth, Gabriel, Anna, Jesús, Joshua and Amanda. Her legacy includes her own children as well as the hundreds of Central High School theatre kids who came through her home and considered her a second mom, the theatre families and volunteers, and the Special Olympics friends she cheered on for years. Her impact extends to MOPS groups, the TED audience, small groups and church families, and inclusive faith communities. She is survived by a world of possibility, and she expected those of us left behind to live out loud and walk bravely into the grand adventure of living.

We don't often talk about death. We certainly don't learn or practice how to die well. But Jenn Buell determined to do both, with courage and creativity - a fair deal of swearing - and occasional riotous laughter. There are no words to express the ways the world is a little quieter, a little smaller, in the absence of Jenn's light. We are more connected, though, thanks to her influence. No strangers, now, Jenn brought the best people in the world together to celebrate her life and walk her home.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 3:30 pm at Discovery Christian Church - 2605 W 144th Ave. Broomfield, CO

A fund has been established, to benefit the children and alleviate costs at https://gofund.me/3da82c9b

Jenn’s family and friends extend gratitude to the hundreds of acquaintances and community members who have supported us during this incredible loss.

Update 3/15:

Jenn passed peacefully around 11pm, listening to the final pages of CS Lewis' The Last Battle.

"The dream is ended: this is the morning."

And as He spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all

lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the

Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

Her children were all in Colorado and spent the final days at her side. She impacted every nurse, CNA, PCT, housekeeper, med aide, and doctor she interacted with - choosing friendship and joy even in her sorrow as she prepared to die

Expenses now continue. Funeral, travel, medical bills, support for Jenn's Ryan and L as they both move into new homes and begin healing. Counseling services and continued support for Jenn's Jarod, Kati, and Sevyn as they pick back up their lives, now orphans.

Please, give generously. You know Jenn did.

Update 3/12: Jenn is back at Hospice where she was greeted with hugs and smiles as "family." She seems to feel peaceful again and her nausea is more controlled. She is sleeping most of her days and nights now, with moments to wake up and tell her loved ones something "important."

We understand that this is no small ask, but you are no small community. Jenn has impacted so many of our lives through her authenticity, joy-chasing, easy laughter, vulnerable story-sharing, and exuberant love of this one very special life. She is an overcomer, a nurturer, a storyteller, a peacemaker, and a leader to so many of us. She is a mother, survivor, friend, and believer who has shown up for many of us in many ways over many years. It is our turn to show up for her.

The specific ways you can help:

ORIGINAL STORY HERE:

Jennifer Buell is a writer, speaker, follower of Jesus, friend to many, mother of four,

widow of Kraig, and dynamic voice for single mothers, widows, and special needs

parents in Colorado and beyond.

In January, after experiencing some back pain, fatigue, and other symptoms Jenn felt

were related to growing older (and the daily challenges of raising kids, being the sole

provider, etc.) Jenn was admitted to the hospital at the end of January and, after blood

tests, PET scans, scopes and biopsies, Jenn was found to have cancer.

Because of the nature of the disease and the pain Jenn is in she needs skilled nursing care. Her diagnosis is terminal and Jenn's doctors say this type of cancer has a timeline of weeks to months.