Jennifer Joan Marie Hennessy

In Loving Memory

Jennifer “Jenny” Joan Marie van’t Wout Hennessy, of Ogden, Utah, passed away on November 4, 2025 after a brave battle with ALS.

Jenny lived a full and joyful life, rooted in hard work, faith, and a deep love for her family. She grew up on a farm in New Zealand, where life among the chickens, cows, and many younger siblings cultivated her resilience and a talent for taking on challenges. After attending an LDS boarding school and earning her nursing certification, she met the love of her life, Scott, who was serving an LDS mission in New Zealand.

Jenny joined Scott in the United States, where she built a long and meaningful career in healthcare. She devoted herself to serving others as a labor and delivery nurse, director of nursing, administrator, and CNA instructor. While she was deeply committed to her profession, her greatest joy was her family. She loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother, and took great pride in watching her family grow into kind and responsible people, knowing she had played a part in their journey.

She especially treasured hugs and kisses from her grandchildren, spending time with each one, laughing, teaching, and loving them, and just as fondly, sending them home at the end of the day. Jenny encouraged others to try new things and to find peace in simple, creative pursuits like knitting or reading, reminders that life can be both meaningful and calming through small acts of joy. She listened without judgement and brought comfort just by just being present.

Jenny was unwaveringly herself. She was a barefoot nature child from New Zealand, a fierce friend and compassionate partner, someone who delivered life and stood vigil beside death. She was bold and powerful, funny and independent, a straight shooter who shared the wisdom of her experiences without ever flaunting them. And even though she hated to be the center of attention, her practicality and competence were irresistible: people drew closer and communities formed wherever she went. We turned to Jenny for guidance through the most difficult moments in life, through loss, worry, sickness, and grief - and it’s the memory of her strength and compassion during those moments that guides us now.

Jenny is survived by her loving husband of 48 years this month, Scott Hennessy; her children, Jacob (Megan) Hennessy, Tiana (Brad) Wood, Todd (Carrie) Hennessy, and Scott (Elizabeth) Hennessy; eight beloved grandchildren; her sisters, Catriena (Terry) Wilkinson, Noeline (Allistair) Odgers, Lisa (Barry) Collins, Johanna Coulston, and Paula (Joseph) van’t Wout; and her brothers, Kenneth (Linda) van’t Wout, Adrian (Karen) van’t Wout, and Timothy (Sonia) van’t Wout; . Jenny was preceded in death by her parents Pieter van’t Wout and Joan Francis Cosgrove van’t Wout.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1401 Country Hills Drive, Ogden. Friends may visit with family on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Garden of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd.

The family of Jenny wants to express appreciation to ALS United Rocky Mountain and Atlas Homecare and Hospice with a special thanks to Josh Clark, Tyler Hess, and her nurses Ronal Roby, Rylee Sichz and Korie Newby.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the ALS organization to help find a cure for ALS.

Having passed from this temporary earthly home into the arms of her Heavenly Father and those who preceded her in death, Jenny leaves behind a legacy of faith, compassion, and unwavering love. She touched innumerable lives through her work, her service, and her family. She will be forever missed and forever remembered.

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Jennifer’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com where condolences may also be shared.