Jennifer M. McKinney

Jennifer Mauren McKinney  January 20, 1972- October     2025

Heaven has a new character. One that has been expected for a while, but still taken way too early.

Jennifer, or Jenny, or Aunt Jenny or Jenny McKinney depending on the audience, suffered a fatal heart attack October 1, 2024.

She can now be found in heaven’s parks, angels’ gardens, and random alleys snipping wild flowers to give to friends. Or making fairy houses. If you close your eyes and listen closely you might hear her saying, “I told you they are real.”

Jennifer’s life can be divided into 3 phases: growing up in Bethany, Oklahoma, her early 20’s in Hawaii, and the past 20 years in the Chicago area. 

Jennifer’s childhood is best described in southern vernacular. It was colorful. It was a full day. She and those tornadoes might be related somehow.  She was a character. She was a pistol. She was a handful. Often followed by the cliche, “Bless her heart.”  These traits are expected, being the younger sister of James, “Kelly” and John McKinney, daughter of James - Jim, if you are real close- and preceded in death by her mother, Kathleen McKinney.  

While she disdained the phrase, “The apple doesn't fall from the tree,” the similarities between Jennifer and her mother were strong. It was easy to “get her goat” and hear a litany of profanity by telling Jennifer she was just like her mother. On the other hand, it was easy to make her mother smile by telling her that Jennifer was just like her. 

Following her dad and older brother Kelly, Jennifer made her way out to the big island of Hawaii. Her dad often says it was the best time of her life. Several times a week she would drive hours across the island from Kona to Hilo to college classes. At night she would work at the Hilton resort serving the rich and famous, like Robyn Wright and Sean Penn. Her off nights were spent with her designated driver and best friend, Poppy Davids. She had not grown out of her youthful, gregarious and tenacious character. 

Eventually Jennifer moved to Chicago to be closer to her two brothers and their families. During the holidays she was happiest being surrounded by nieces and nephews: Kelly and Kim’s children: James Ryan, Kaylen, and Colin. John and Rebecca’s children: Finnegan and Harper. John and Carin’s children: Ian and Molly. It was expected for her to say, “They are so beautiful. It just warms my heart.” Jennifer had nothing less than unconditional love for each of them, who she believed could do no wrong. For most of them, Jennifer was held in awe as an adult who was a source of smiles and endless stories about her big brothers that should have kept to herself, and birthday cards filled with fairy dust.   

Sadly, the last 20 years were a hard loss of connection with everyday peace for Jennife.  It would be nice if there was a simple explanation, but the cause of bi polar disorder is not obvious and Jennifer, unfortunately, never found a medication that worked. She battled anxiety and stress for too many years. 

May she find the peace she was always in search of. Jennifer’s memorial will be attended by family and friends. If you would like to show your thoughts for her and people whose hearts are full of kindness, even though they often struggle: pick a wild flower and give it to someone who might need it. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jennifer M. McKinney, please visit our floral store.