Jenny Elizabeth Howell Heitzner
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On Friday, May 12, 2023, Jenny Heitzner of Anacortes passed away at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle due to a sudden illness. Jenny, the daughter of Anacortes residents Robert and Esther Howell, was born September 20, 1964 in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to her parents, Jenny is survived by her daughter Olivia Schmerge Quarterman (Zack) of Bellingham; step-daughter Lauren Schmerge Reynolds (Craig) of White Plains, NY; sister Elena Lamont of Seattle; brothers Robert Howell Jr. and Aaron Howell (Cassandra), both of Anacortes; and numerous nieces and nephews from one coast to the other.
Much of Jenny's early childhood was spent in Riverside, CT near aunts and uncles and cousins on her mother's side. About the time she was to enter high school, the family relocated to Medina, WA, and Jenny graduated from Bellevue High School in 1982. Her father's work took the family back to Connecticut, and Jenny followed. She married Anthony Schmerge in 1991. Though the marriage ended in divorce, it produced Jenny's dearest treasure, her daughter Olivia, whom Jenny reared entirely on her own while pursuing a successful career with Kraft Foods and then Mondelez International, a spinoff of Kraft. Olivia was Jenny's unending pride and joy, and she saw her daughter graduate from Western Washington University and then marry Zack Quarterman of Seattle in 2022. In 2012, Jenny had accepted an offer from Mondelez to transfer to Seattle and work remotely; in 2017 she purchased a home in Anacortes to be closer to Olivia and Zack, who were now living in Bellingham, WA, and to her parents and two brothers living in Anacortes as well as maternal aunts Jenny (after whom she was named) and uncle Alan Kingsbury (both now deceased); and Carol and uncle Art Hall. In 2019 she realized a cherished goal of retiring from her corporate job by age 55. Never one to lie about, she sought a part-time "retirement job" in Anacortes and was hired by the local Ace Hardware. She was drawn to Ace because of the type of work and the opportunity to meet people from all over the community who frequented the store, and to develop friendships with her fellow employees. Jenny loved working at Ace, strove to master the inventory and array of services that Ace offered the community, and above all relished interaction with customers.
If there is one expression that sums up Jenny's personality, it is that she was a "people person." She loved helping people, developing friendships, and spending time with friends and family. Jenny loved the neighborhood where she lived in Anacortes and formed close bonds with many of her neighbors. She was a vibrant bundle of energy and liked doing things and building things. She personally directed the renovation of her home before moving into it, loved learning about tools and other hardware that Ace Hardware sells, and loved even more being able to help customers when they came to the store in need of an item. Whether family, friends, or strangers, Jenny found fulfillment in helping people. Jenny was always up for a hike or to go kayaking with friends or family. And she was one who never burned bridges. From her high school days on, she maintained ties with friends from every phase of her life and kept those cherished relationships fresh and vibrant to the day she died. A neighbor, upon learning of Jenny's passing, captured how people who knew her felt about her:
Over the last several months I have found myself thinking 'I want
to be more like Jenny.' Jenny was 'an amazing woman, selfless,
loving and competent...Jenny's really something. No words.'
The family plans to have a public gathering at a later date to remember Jenny. Details will be posted at www.evanschapel.com/obituary/Jenny-Elizabeth-Howell-Heitzner once they are firm.