Jennifer Green Obituary

Groton - Sweet Jennie Green.

The sweetness began Aug. 11, 1970, when Jennifer Anne Green was born to parents, Carol and Mike in Bay City, Mich. Two years later, the Navy brought the Greens to Groton, where Jennie would begin to amass her enormous collection of friends.

She attended local schools, graduating from Fitch High School in 1988 before studying accounting at Mitchell College and Eastern Connecticut State University. Her mother recalls the day Jennie determined accounting was not to be her path in life by declaring that she would either (A) lie down in the driveway so someone could run over her or (B) attend school for hairstyling. Fortunately for her and the rest of us, Jennie chose (B).

She spent 32 years at Waterhouse Salon in New London, making clients and coworkers smile, laugh, think, look and feel better about themselves. She became a recognizable and respected member of the community in her adopted hometown of New London and faithfully supported local musicians, artists, shops, galleries, restaurants, theaters, concert venues, beaches, yoga studios and the occasional watering hole.

Jennie also supported numerous causes close to her heart, including OakTree Crew, which named a closet in her honor after she helped fund its construction; the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation, for which she completed the 26.2-mile Walk for a Cure; and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, for which she ran another 26.2 miles to raise funds.

A longtime vegan, Jennie was devoted to animals of all kinds. Among the spoiled and happy rescue dogs and cats in her life were Muffin, Sazzy, Josephine, Penelope, Gracie and Hank. Jennie was also committed to a healthy planet and took great pains to purchase and even make her own environmentally friendly, cruelty-free and non-toxic household products.

Jennie collected art, cooked gourmet meals, traveled extensively, read voraciously, meditated thoughtfully, practiced yoga religiously, and grew a garden lusher than most. Her fashion phasers were always set to stun: She was sustainably stylish, with a look all her own, and a shoe savant. Many a client of Waterhouse Salon could be heard asking their stylist, "How can she walk in those?"

She rarely said goodbye, preferring "Constant contact!"

Jennie passed in the early morning of July 22 after 16 months of dealing with "stupid cancer." She leaves a hole as big as her heart.

She is survived by her beloved mother and stepfather, Carol and Ken Hessler; her father and stepmother, Mike and Gayle Green; the love of her life, Trevor Chandonnait, and his sons, Lincoln and Fletcher; stepsisters Dawn, Debbie, Diana, and Holly; stepbrother Jason; her dog Gertrude, cat Leonard, and a host of friends across the world who suddenly find life a lot less sweet right now.

Jennie's family would like to thank the staff at Backus Hospital for their kindness and care-and for not throwing out her vast number of visitors-during those final days.

If you would like to share your condolences with her family and other friends, you are invited to the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2. While Jennie appreciated the sophistication of black clothing, feel free to wear colorful clothes and amazing shoes.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to OakTree Crew, https://www.oaktreecrew.org/donate, 9 Raymond Place, Norwich, CT 06360. Or simply be kind to any animals you may come across.

Constant contact, sweet Jennie Green.