In any case, love is energy. And energy never dies, only changes form.Jennifer FranetOur beloved Jennifer tragically passed away Christmas evening in a car accident in Mendocino County, CA. A beautiful spirit, Jennifer was born in Walnut Creek, CA and raised in the East Bay. She graduated from College Park High School in Pleasant Hill in 1993. She graduated with distinction from the University of California, Berkeley in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English.Jennifer was an extraordinary, loving, spirited, bright, affectionate, beautiful, courageous person ... these words only begin to describe the wonderful woman that she was and always will be to those who loved and cherished her. Jennifer's dearest love was to her children Zachary and Sage. Her passions were many: writing, reading, teaching, learning, music, meeting new people. She felt very strongly about helping those in need and had plans to start a non-profit organization to help underprivileged children in third world countries. Jennifer was a free spirit, a wild soul, and passionate about all that she did. While she was taken from us far too young, she was fortunate enough to have achieved her lifes ambition: she left the world a better place for being in it. She was a mother, a teacher, a writer, an environmentalist, and her amazing energy lit up any room she entered. From an early age, Jennifer was concerned about the earth and was captivated by the beauty of nature. She was a tireless advocate for the environment and single-handedly rescued more lost, sick, or injured critters than could fit in a small zoo. She finally found her home in the beauty of the redwood forest in Arcata. She spent endless hours hiking, exploring and feeding her soul. She was a strikingly beautiful child who grew into a woman more lovely for her amazing intellect and compassionate heart. She funnelled that beauty, and all the beauty she saw in the world into her writing. A published author, Jennifer had the power to captivate with her words. She used them to take us on emotional journeys of laughter and tears and to challenge us to explore the depths of human nature. Jennifer loved children. From an early age she worked with children with special needs and continued that passion into adulthood working as a teacher and job coach. In fact, Jennifer so loved children that she wanted to give the gift of parenthood to a couple unable to carry their own child by being their gestational surrogate. In November of 2005, Jennifer gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Perhaps the greatest gifts she gave the world were her children, Zachary and Sage. Jennifer loved her children more than anything else and felt a great responsibility for raising them to be good, caring, responsible people. While they are not yet adults, it is clear from all who know them that she has done just that. Jennifer Franet was a renaissance woman. She leaves in her a wake a trail of compassionate action, beautiful words and amazing human beings. She is a person whose inner beauty and passion for living was a brilliant light for us to follow. And while we mourn the loss of this light, we celebrate its burning on in the hearts of all of us forever changed by her love.Jennifer is survived by her son Zachary, daughter Sage, and surrogate son Miguel. Also survived by her mother Joan Franet, father Vanda Boutte III, ex-stepfather Lawrence Hornbeck, her sisters Julia Franet-Hornbeck and Rachael Franet-Hornbeck, her grandmothers Florence Franet and Barbara Johnson, her ex-partner Jenna Smith, her Aunts Diane Franet, Michelle Boutte-Burke; her Uncles Michael Franet (wife Kate), Ronald Boutte, Stephen Boutte, Gerard Boutte, David Keala, and many friends and relatives. She was preceded in death by her Grandfather Francis Franet, Grandmother Marylynn Hornbeck, Great Grandmother Florence Boggs, Great Grandfather Harold Boggs, Great Grandmother Stella Franetovich, Great Grandfather Lucas Franetovich, Great Grandmother Marjorie J. Stansbury, Great Grandparents Elizabeth & Clarence Cunningham, and Aunt Susan Franet. Jennifer was also survived by her extended family and friends from many walks of life. Jennifer was laid to rest at the Fernwood Cemetery in Marin where she had a green burial.
