About Us

In June of 1999, our dear friend Jen Di Reeno, a lifelong resident of Reading, MA succumbed to cancer (melanoma) just four weeks after her 21st birthday.  As you can imagine, her parents (Wally and Patty), her younger sister (Kim), and her extremely long list of friends naturally felt indescribable grief due to their loss of Jen.

But what might surprise you is that shortly after Jen’s death, an interesting opportunity for some healing came to light.  Two life-long friends of Jen’s, Tom Ensminger and Tara Hayes Finnegan, enlisted the help of a mentor and brought an idea to Patty, Wally and Kim.  They sat around the dining room table with a few friends, and together decided to organize a foundation in Jen’s name. 

Since the Foundation received 501 (c) 3 non-profit status in 2000, we’ve grown into a group of people – a family really - of 17 board members committed to telling the world about Jen and developing programs to help others heal from grief.  While we recognize that we will always miss Jen, it is our hope that each time the Foundation plans an event or holds a meeting, a little piece of our own hurt and grief turns into healing through our commitment, hard work, and love.

Jen spread love and genuine happiness to strangers, acquaintances, and friends and family alike.  Despite her illness, Jen’s positive energy was stronger than ever, and she refused to allow worry or depression to burden her friends and family.  Jen’s spirit, smile and infectious laughter uplifted those around her and helped support her grieving family and friends. 

Jen’s jovial spirit of love continues to affect all those she knew, and now all those touched by The Jen Di Reeno Foundation as well.