Jennifer Marie Hamand

Jennifer Marie Hamand, age 25, of 18144 Yarrow Ave. Nora Springs, died Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at the Nora Springs Care Center. A Celebration of Life will be held 12:00 ? 4:00 PM Sunday, April 1, 2007 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, Crisis Intervention Service, or the Humane Society of North Iowa. Jennifer Marie Hamand was born on February 14, 1982; to Ralph A. and Kimberly Hamand. Jennifer attended school in Mason City, IA until the family moved to an acreage near Nora Springs in 1994. She attended the Nora Spring- Rock Falls schools until her graduation in 2000. Jenny attended NIACC and UNI following graduation and received her Bachelor?s Degree in Social Work in July 2004. She worked for several organizations before becoming ill in 2005. Jenny enjoyed spending time with family and friends, watching movies, going out, and being with her pets. She was a very compassionate person who spent time working with people in need. She assisted women in Mason City and Waterloo while working in shelters providing support during difficult times. She joined the staff at Opportunity Village in Clear Lake as a personal assistant in 2005. She enjoyed working with the residents and staff until her illness forced her to quit in the fall. Jenny fought her illness with courage and never complained a single day. She always had a smile and a hug for everyone. Her personality never waned even though her body continued to fail. She provided many special moments to those around her and will be missed by all who knew her. The Mayo Clinic Foundation has generously donated their services to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of this tragic disease. Hopefully, Jenny?s passing will help assist the research of these types of diseases and benefit others. Jenny is survived by her parents, Ralph A. and Kimberly Hamand, Nora Springs; brother, R. Justin Hamand and his fiancé Nicole DeGeus, Mason City; grandparents, Ralph W. and Marilyn Hamand, Nora Springs, Karen and Frank Uhde, Thornton; uncles, David (Tracy)Hamand, Nora Springs, Frank (Tonya)Uhde, Meservey; and aunt Doris (Mark) Sparby, Ten Stirke, MN; many cousins, and great aunts and uncles. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Ray and Tena Schwartz.

Visitation:
12:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on April 1, 2007 (map/driving directions) 4:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on March 29, 2007 (map/driving directions)

Service:
4:00 PM at on March 29, 2007 (map/driving directions)