Jennifer Ann Harrison

Jennifer Ann Harrison, 44, of Springfield, passed away peacefully at 6:16 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 2016 at Memorial Medical Center, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Jennifer was born February 24, 1971 in Omaha, NE, the daughter of David Lee and Linda Susan Bell Kuntzman. She married James S. Harrison on July 20, 1991 in Kincaid. Jennifer was a graduate of Kincaid High School and obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Illinois University. She worked for the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. Jennifer will be especially remembered for her commitment to the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, her service at Little Flower School, and most of all, her fighting spirit. Survivors include her husband, Jim and daughter, Ella Drew, both of Springfield; parents, David and Linda Kuntzman of Springfield; sister, Kim (Mike) Biggs of Chatham; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jim and JoAnn Harrison of Tovey; grandfather, Lester Kuntzman of Taylorville; grandmother-in-law, Josephine Magos of Tovey; brother-in-law, Jeff (Shannon) Harrison of Pawnee; sister-in-law, Jolene (Greg) Lockwood of Decatur. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews: Camille, Marina, Aleta, Alec, Lydia, Maura, Lyla, Andrew and Garren, and great-niece and nephew, Kiah and Bryar; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Jennifer was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Paul and Nadine Bell and paternal grandmother, Nan Kuntzman. Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 11, 2016 at Church of the Little Flower, 800 Stevenson Dr., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 4:00 p.m. Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at Church of the Little Flower, with Rev. John Nolan celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 2001 N. 5th St., Springfield. Memorial contributions may be made to: Little Flower School, 800 Stevenson Dr., Springfield, IL 62703 or the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU, Southern Illinois University Foundation, P.O. Box 19666, Springfield, IL 62794. Jennifer's family would like to thank Dr. Robert Mocharnuk, Dr. James Wynstra, and the nurses and staff from the Memorial Medical Center Oncology Department and Intensive Care Unit for their exceptional commitment to and care of Jennifer.