Jennifer Lemley

Jennifer Lemley, age 57, of Boston, MA, Weston, MA, and West Falmouth, MA, died suddenly of natural causes on September 13, 2025. She is survived by her husband, Christopher Lemley; her parents, John and Paulette Krause of Dallas, Texas and brother Jonathan of Cleveland, Ohio; her in-laws, Fraser and Cecile Lemley of Boston, MA; her two beloved dogs, Hazel and Daisy; and her three spectacular boys, Noah, Ethan and Calvin. Her family and all of her many close friends are devastated.

After graduating the Culinary Institute of America (a fact that she was always reluctant to share) and UMass Amherst, Jenn had a career in the restaurant industry both as a chef and general manager. She married Chris in 1995 and three years later "retired" to begin their family with the arrivals of Noah (1998), Ethan (2000) and Calvin (2003).

Jenn was a fierce mother, friend, daughter, niece and wife. Can fierce be a noun or an active verb? Because using an adjective is too soft and passive to describe her approach to life. There was no person you'd want more in your corner, nor someone you'd less want to make a voodoo doll out of you.

Jenn spent eleven years as an active parent at The Rivers School in Weston, MA, where all three boys graduated. She chaired the annual auction and served as head of the Rivers Parents League. She was particularly proud of her boys' decade of participation on the Rivers Boys Varsity Soccer team; she cherished the five years she served as a captain's parent in helping to build the culture of that group. She valued the many leadership lessons and life-long friendships (both between the boys and amongst the parents) that emerged from that experience. Asked once by a new freshman's parent who Rivers' biggest rival opponent was, Jenn thought for a second and replied with full sincerity, "We hate them all!"

She made the best chocolate chip cookies known to mankind - affectionately nicknamed "crack cookies" by her friends because they were so addictive -- and also a top-shelf Bolognese sauce. She loved going for long walks with her dogs and her friends. She was also enthusiastic about fitness and even after moving back into the city two years ago, continued to return to Heroes Fitness in Wellesley four days a week - for her, Heroes was a special community and much more than just a gym.

Jenn and Chris would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in October and just last week were arguing over how long of a trip to Italy could be accomplished without having to check a bag. Like nearly all of their arguments, regardless of the merits on logical or factual grounds, Chris would have lost that one. He wishes, though, that they were still having it today.

His one serious message: when someone you love is complaining of pain and your gut is telling you to make them call the doctor, don't take "no" for an answer.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held Tuesday, September 16, from 4:00 to 5:00, followed by a reception and visitation from 5:00-7:00, at Belmont Country Club, 181 Winter Street Belmont MA. Drop-in visitation (similar to a wake) anytime between 5:00-7:00 is encouraged for anyone wishing simply to pay their respects. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to Horizons for Homeless Children, Heading Home, or Planned Parenthood.