Jennifer Emmi Fiorini

Jenn was born on July 29, 1979 to Michael and Joan Emmi in Naperville, IL. In 1985, the Emmis moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia, where Jenn entered the first grade at The Agnes Irwin School, graduating in 1997. In 2001 she earned a BA from Georgetown University in Washington, DC where she majored in English and minored in World Religion.

Jenn started her career in advertising working for the San Francisco-based agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, but eventually pursued a Master’s in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, which she completed in 2005. She then returned to her alma mater, Agnes Irwin, where she stayed for the next 14 years. As an English teacher and lacrosse coach, she helped students not only find and nurture their passions for writing and literature, but also develop self-confidence. She encouraged, challenged, and lifted up each student who walked into her classroom. She knew when to stop a literature discussion to talk about prom, to pull a student aside to check in, or to play a practical joke in class to lighten the mood.   

Jenn served as Dean of Students and ultimately Upper School Division Director. She cheered (very) loudly at pep rallies, surprised her students with cupcakes and dance parties, and helped students and their families reframe mistakes as opportunities to learn and to grow. She resigned in January 2019 to spend more time with her children and focus on her health. 

Jenn was a natural competitor, mostly against herself and her personal limits. She was always in pursuit of learning, a facet of her that never faltered, even after her cancer diagnosis in 2015. She earned her certification as a Yoga Alliance Teacher in May of this year. Jenn also continued educating by serving as a mentor in Penn’s Graduate School of Education’s Masters of Educational Leadership program until this past November. In this role she acted as a coach to young educators and aspiring administrators to support their development as leaders and educators.  

Jenn loved the outdoors. She found peace in nature and seized on any opportunity to hike, camp, rock climb, run, or stand-up paddle. She shared her passion for outdoor exploration with her two boys, whom she loved fiercely. Together they experienced the joy of kayaking trips on the eastern shore of Maryland, 10-mile bike rides on Nantucket, and fishing, camping, and expeditions to Hawk Mountain, Valley Forge, and Marsh Creek. She also helped them connect with nature closer to home, growing vegetables in the backyard and running outside together to enjoy the first snowfall of winter. 

Jenn loved her boys most of all. She delighted in their distinct personalities and ensured they knew they were loved for exactly who they are. The example she set for them was one of honesty, integrity, and respect for themselves and for others.

Jenn was authentic, intelligent, loyal, and accepting, believing the best of her friends, accepting the worst. She was a woman of delightful contradictions -- a passionate reader of William Faulkner and Us Weekly,  a gifted teacher of literary nuance. Her adventurous spirit took her to Iceland, Istanbul, Indonesia, and places in between, and her deep connection to home led her to settle in the neighborhood where she grew up, just a few blocks from her parents’ house.  

She is survived by her former husband Franco Fiorini, two spectacular sons, Jackson William and Henry James; her loving parents, Joan and Mike Emmi; her big brother Michael Emmi and his wife Suzanne; her nephew Matthew and her niece Mia,and aunts, uncles, cousins and a collection of brilliant and kooky friends, many of whom were fortunate enough to enjoy her generosity and wit until the very end. She imprinted on those close to her in ten thousand different ways and is sorely missed by each and every one of them. She is gone from our sight but never from our hearts and our memories.

The visitation will be on Tuesday December 15 at Alleva Funeral Home in Paoli PA, from two to five in the afternoon. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 16th at 11am at Our Lady of the Assumption in Strafford PA. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Philadelphia Ronald Mc Donald House in honor of Jennifer, 3925 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, www.philarmh.org