Jessica Dawn Mauder

Jessica Dawn Catlett Mauder passed away suddenly on August 27, 2017 surrounded by family and friends. A visitation will be held on Friday, September 1 from 4-6pm followed by a memorial service at 6pm at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, VA. Online condolences may be offered at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com. Those who know Jessica would understand she would have never wanted a formal obituary.

In 1998, Jessica wrote an autobiography when she was 15. She said her life's mantra was "Follow your conscience, life is not always fair, make the best of what you have, be a leader, don't do things everybody else is doing, be your own person." She lived by these words in one way or another each day and she always wanted everyone around her to be their own person too. She wanted her children to remember that she was kind, thoughtful, funny, beautiful and devoted to them.

Jessica was born in Richmond, VA in 1983. She left this world as abruptly as she came into it, but that's really how she preferred things. This is what she would have wanted to be remembered for:

Jessica loved so many things, especially life itself. She loved reading, the beach, breaking the rules, and loud music but most of all she loved her family - her husband and children, her parents, her crazy sisters, her grandparents, her aunts, uncles and cousins. She loved her friends and would do anything for them. She also loved helping people and putting a smile on everyone’s face. While there are lots of happy times, in her early years some of the happiest memories she had were volunteering for the JCCFD Explorers program and with the Virginia Commonwealth Challenge.

In her later years her happiest times were with her family and especially her children. Most of all, she loved her children Brady and Mackenzie and they will always remember her laugh and all the crazy stuff they did together.

Jessica Dawn Catlett Mauder is survived by her family Christopher Mauder, Brady Mauder, Mackenzie Mauder, her parents Alton and Laurie Catlett, her grandparents Joe and Jane Deso, Ruby G. Stanley, siblings Ashley Catlett and Matt Toper, Lindsey Catlett and Mary Jo McCoy, Annie Catlett, aunts, uncles and cousins Angie and Mark Wharam, Nancy and A.T. Mayo, Allyson Wharam, Emily Wharam, Taylor and Michelle Mayo, Ellen and Jon Brady.

In lieu of flowers the Catlett family is requesting donations to Bacon Street Youth and Family Services (http://baconstreet.org/donate/).