Jennifer Poff Koski's Obituary
Consider Jennifer Poff Koski (you may have known her as Jen), who completed a hearty life on January 21, 2020. Her love is carried by her six children, husband, sister, three brothers, and an extended family of dear friends and relations from all walks of life. We were blessed to learn the following lessons from Jennifer’s 50 years:
If you’re going to be the youngest child, be the princess. Get tortured with tomato seeds by your brothers. Give them the reaction they want: scream. Tattle on them endlessly. Declare your doll Amy is a real person and throw a fit when the boys tease her. Claim that pickles make your eyebrows sweat. Eat lots of chocolate. Never ever eat a strawberry, orange, or other food that appears to have an offensive texture. This is your birthright.
If you want to attract a husband, you might find one in a college rugby class. (Refuse to drop the class even when you learn that rugby is not a girly girl sport.) The two of you might be from neighboring high schools and this might give him enough courage to break the ice. He might show up unexpectedly at your dad’s dental practice where you work and embarrass you with flowers. Remain a devoted pair for 29 years.
If you’re going to be a mother, go all in. Start early and have two kids before finishing your bachelor’s degree. Keep your schedule open and fight to be home when your kids come home from school each day. Let them have pets even if you are moderately allergic and will only touch them with an oven mitt. Enroll each of them in piano lessons, even if it doesn’t stick.
Write memorable, thoughtful, head scratching quotes on thousands of scraps of paper. Never throw any of these papers away. Gather quote books, then underline and write notes in the margins about your favorites. Rewind movies and podcasts to transcribe the pithy lines. Volunteer to run a website and post daily quotes for years. Turn this quote obsession into a minor career in text editing. Pick a Shakespeare quote for your kitchen wall.
Be a gifted piano player who can sight read like the wind but is unable to play Three Blind Mice without sheet music. Work on perfecting the tricky parts of Clair de Lune for weeks until the song becomes almost nauseating to your children.
If you develop jaw pain, make pennant banners as a creative and distracting outlet. Give most of them away to retirement homes and children’s hospitals across the country via your traveling husband. Later, if you get breast cancer and need a double mastectomy, use your decorating skills to throw a “Boob Voyage” party. Make the best of things.
Question your religion and allow others the same freedom. Reject black and white and find beauty and love in the gray. Conclude with believing in the New Testament teachings of Jesus. Follow the Golden Rule.
Be sweet, kind, and nonjudgmental. Be genuinely interested in other people’s lives and make them feel loved and valued. Gather lifelong friends wherever you go.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate Jennifer’s life on Saturday January 25th, starting at 1 pm, at Brick Canvas (2455 W Executive Pkwy Lehi, UT 84043). There will be an organized portion for the first hour where you may get a shot at the open mic, then visiting and casual activities from 2-4 pm.
Instead of flowers, perhaps Jennifer would prefer that you would do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness to someone close or far from you.
What’s your fondest memory of Jennifer?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jennifer?
Share a story where Jennifer's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jennifer you’ll never forget.
How did Jennifer make you smile?