Jennis Parcells

Jennis Marie (Kessler) Parcells, age 84, recently of Copperas Cove, formerly a long-time resident of Southern California, joined her husband with Our Lord on Friday, June 17, 2022, of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Her life will be celebrated on June 29, 2022, with a Family Rosary Walk beginning at 10:00 am followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 am at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Copperas Cove, Texas. Burial will be on July 2, 2022, at 10:00 am at Hillside Cemetery in Saguache, Colorado.

In November of 1937, Jennis was born to Bonnie and Henry Kessler, in Inglewood, CA. She grew up loving the beach, hanging out at her dad’s chandelier shop in Beverly Hills, and spending time with her brother and sisters. In high school, while participating in Junior Achievement, Jennis met the love of her life, Joseph (Joe) Parcells. Upon graduation, they married, devoting an incredible 40 years to each other. Jennis began working for JC Penney’s then Hughes Aircraft, leaving only to start their new family of 5 beautiful girls in 9 years. Their home was always warm and welcoming to all. Jennis would cook an amazing meal, living her motto: “If you visit our house once, you are a guest. Come back again and you are family.”

Over the years, Jennis and Joe moved their family around the nation from California, to Colorado, to Iowa, to Texas, and back to Southern California. Her biggest passion and joy came from raising her daughters, teaching them the power of love, kindness, and resiliency. Jennis found happiness in children. She taught swim lessons and became a lifetime Girl Scout troop leader, always smiling and singing campfire songs and church hymns. She especially loved playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Despite the many challenges life presented, Jennis lived a life full of joy. She took pride in giving her gifts to others, whether that be couponing, sewing, or sharing her strong faith in God. This is something we cherish and aspire to adopt in our own lives in honor of hers.

Jennis is survived by her daughters, Mary Parcells, Anita Wardlow and her husband Bruce, Dr. Susan Ryan, and Rose Shirmer and her husband Rodney; her grandchildren, Bernard Ryan and his wife Shea,  Ashley Crane and her husband Martin, Elizabeth Craig and her husband Brian, Bruce (BJ) Wardlow, Nicole Gripton and her husband Tommy, Aleia Wardlow, Rachel Shirmer, Abbie Wardlow, and Lorelei Shirmer; and her great-grandchildren, Andrew Craig, Abby Craig, Zoey Crane, Elizabeth Gripton, Nora Ryan, Camden Gripton, and Martin Crane IV.  Jennis’ older sister, Joy Lowman, survives as well.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, April; husband, Joe Parcells; brother, Jerry Kessler; and sisters, Carol Jean Kessler and JoAnn Underwood.