Jennifer was born in Streator, IL on April 4th, 1975 to Donna And Gary Garretson. She moved to South Florida in 1981 with her family, then relocated to Orlando in 1995.
She graduated from Valencia College as a Registered Nurse in 2000. She spent the next 22 years as an Emergency Room nurse, mainly in the ORMC network, with 18 years being located in the main hospital in downtown Orlando. She passed on her experiences and skills to many young nurses coming up the ranks, emphasizing empathy and quality patient care. She had a sense of humor with her co-workers as could be seen by her zany, colorful glasses and her cowboy boots as a working footwear alternative, and there was always chocolate available in her office for anyone needing a sugar lift. She was the consummate team player leading her teams through many key events including numerous hurricanes, the Pulse Nightclub Shooting and Covid.
Jennifer was also passionate about the Children’s Burn Camp of Florida. She worked about 20 years with this organization providing a beautiful camp experience for child burn survivors. She will always be remembered as a person who would never stop giving of herself, and who would always put others’ needs ahead of her own.
However, as wonderful a healthcare provider that she was, her greatest accomplishment was as both mother and father to her son Brandon whom she loved and cherished. She was the mom who was volunteering for marching band every fall, and who was at countless Karate Tournaments cheering for her boy. She epitomized the phrase “bragging rights” when it came to her pride and joy.
Brandon will be surrounded by the family who will also survive her and keep her spirit alive including: her parents, Donna and Gary Garretson of Ormond Beach, her sister, LeAnne (Tom) Garretson-Tran, her brother, Brad (Jackie) Garretson, and her nieces and nephew, Reilly, Madison, Kendall, and Tyler of whom she was very proud. Also continuing her memory will be her loves, Freddy and his daughter Amaya.
As an avid dog lover, Jennifer will be excited to see her much missed fur babies, Chip and Mocha, who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in years past.
Jennifer passed from this world peacefully, surrounded by her family, on October 10th, 2022. Cremation Rites have been accorded and a Full Funeral Mass and Services will be held for all who loved her on Nov 4th, 2022 at 10:00am at St Joseph Catholic Church at 1501 N Alafaya Tr in Orlando, FL 32828.