Jennifer B. Pagani

Jen attended the University of Georgia and graduated in 1992. She left not only with a degree in business administration, but also a true love and devotion to Georgia football. In 1998, she graduated magna cum laude with a BS in nursing from UNC Charlotte.

A naturally gifted athlete, Jen started competing in sports at the age of four. Whether swimming, cycling, running, (or all three), Jen was never happier than when she had a finish line in front of her. After years of impressive finishes in triathlons, Jen completed her first Ironman Triathlon at Lake Placid USA in 2001, finishing in an impressive 12 hours, 51 minutes. She went on to complete Lake Placid USA Ironman the following year, beating her previous time by 29 minutes. Her natural athletic ability led to the perfect career; in 1999, she became a personal trainer and endurance coach for Prescriptive Fitness at the Harris YMCA in Charlotte.

Jen was blessed to have one truly great love in her life. She was only a teenager when she met Joe Pagani, who would become her husband. The two married on May 18, 1998 and soon after settled down in Charlotte.

Jen and Joe were thrilled with the birth of two sons in 2005 and 2007. After their second son was born, however, they were devastated when Jen was diagnosed with Stage III inflammatory breast cancer. Radiation, chemotherapy, and experimental treatments immediately ensued, and lasted for over 6 years. Along the way, Jen wondered how other women and their families were handling the financial repercussions of breast cancer treatment. She knew they must be struggling to make ends meet.

As a result, Jen and Joe Pagani created the GoJenGo Foundation. With the support of generous sponsors, the foundation has offered help to hundreds of individuals struggling to stay afloat financially due to the enormous expense of treatment and medication. The largest fundraiser for the foundation came last year when the inaugural RunJenRun 5K took place in Charlotte. The second annual RunJenRun 5K is scheduled for March 1 this year, and will honor the memory and spirit of the amazing woman who has made such a difference to her community. Along with her children, the GoJenGo Foundation is Jen’s parting gift and legacy.

Jen was born in Alexandria, VA on October 28, 1969 to Jan and Howard Burnette. She is survived by her parents of Mooresville, and by her husband Joe and their two sons, Rocco and Luca of Charlotte; a brother Jeff Burnette and wife Erin and nephew Parker Burnette, all of Fort Mill, SC; mother-in-law Judy Pagani of Charlotte; father-in-law Joseph Pagani and wife Lillie of Blufton, SC; brother-in-law Christopher Pagani and wife Michelle of Charlotte; brother-in-law Thomas Pagani and wife Judith of Charlotte; and nephews Kennedy and Keaton Pagani.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, February 9 at Christ Lutheran Church, 4545 Providence Road in Charlotte.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the GoJenGo Foundation, 7804 Fairview Road, Ste 217, Charlotte, NC 28226 or to the Rocco and Luca Pagani Educational Fund c/o of Consolidated Planning, 4201 Congress Street, Ste 295, Charlotte, NC 28209.