Hello Music Lovers! In case you haven't heard, Jennifer lost her battle with breast cancer last week. Below is the life sketch written by her surviving family.
Jennifer Lynne Holmes
May 12, 1982 – March 28, 2018
Jennifer made her appearance into this world 8 weeks early
while her parents were on a weekend trip to Vancouver British Columbia. She started charming people at only a week
old, as the army sent up 3 doctors and 4-5 nurses in a helicopter to bring her
back to the states. She stayed in the
NICU for another week or so before she would join the rest of the family. One
of the first times that Jennifer was around extended family, her uncle Mike
nearly sat on her believing that she was a random doll laying on the sofa.
As she grew her personality became vivacious and always curious. From unplugging the cord from the computer with a question of “what dis do?” to “it’s a Fristmas free not a fristmas free” always questioning why and how and deciding when she was three that she was old enough to get in the star swing herself but getting stuck and not allowing anyone to help her get out. Only dresses were worn and yellow was always preferable. Fred the wonder horse was her constant companion for many years and Sleeping Beauty the only movie to watch. School brought many friends and began a passion for learning things that pertained to the stars, music, rocks, writing and the ability to stand up for what she believed in, no matter what.
Jennifer always had a passion for animals and wanted to
become a Veterinarian. Life got in the way, so she settled for becoming the
best barista she could. Jennifer worked
at Tulley’s and later Starbucks, always giving great customer service and superb
coffee. Then following her passion for animals, she found a vet clinic to work
at, as a receptionist but they soon realized she was capable of much, much more
and they began to train her to become a Vet Technician. She followed this path for a few years then
took a break to follow another passion, geology and earth science. She attended college for several years
following this dream but ultimately the soft and furry animals won and she
returned to be a Vet Technician, becoming certified with the assistance of her
mentors at All Critters Animal Hospital.
Life was good! Jennifer made many friends in the music industry and attended countless concerts for a wide variety of artists. Then the tragic day came that she discovered a lump in her breast, which after a barrage of tests turned out to be stage four breast cancer. She took on this challenge head on like everything else in her life and fought to live with everything she had. When the treatments ceased to be effective against the cancer, Jennifer made a decision that no person should ever have to make. Try another round of chemo that might give her a few more months but at great risk to her already fragile body or choose to stop treatment and let the cancer run its course and kill her. Jennifer chose to face death on her terms. The cancer grew at a steady pace for about six months, then as she had been told it would, it exploded and quickly consumed her. She passed quietly, surround by family and friends. Jennifer you were born too early. And now you're gone way too soon.
Jennifer is survived by her parents, and siblings Jason,
Neomi, Linda, Lydia, Emily, Michelle, Mathew and Tiffany and Jason. She has too many aunts, uncles, cousins,
nieces and nephews to mention, as well as friends all over the world, from her
many trips and adventures, where she never failed to make new friends. We all mourn her loss, and are inspired by
the spirit in which she lived her life.
