Jennifer Lee Farrell

Jennifer Lee Farrell, 46, of South Bend, Indiana passed away at 11:48 p.m. Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in Memorial Hospital.  Jennifer was born on January 11, 1978 in Akron, Ohio to David and Terri (Lemasters) Hanichak.  She had been employed for 15 years as a First Grade Teacher, most recently at St. Bavo School in Mishawaka.  On July 27, 2002 in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, she married Brian A. Farrell, who survives.  Jennifer is also survived by her son, Braden Farrell of South Bend, Indiana; her parents, David and Terri Hanichak of Edwardsburg, Michigan;  her brother, Danny (Renee) Hanichak of Chicago, Illinois;  three nieces, Kasey Vogl of Cedar Rapid, Iowa, and Sloane and Clara Hanichak of Chicago, Illinois; and two nephews, Connor Vogl of Kansas City, Missouri and Griffin Vogl of Iowa City, Iowa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 4, 2024 in St. Joseph Church, 226 N. Hill Street, South Bend, Indiana.  Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.  There will be a luncheon from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Firefighters Union Hall.  A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana, where a rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will also take place from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph Church. Jennifer was a 1996 graduate of St. Joseph High School. She was a cheerleader and was part of the 1995 St. Joe Football Championship season. Jennifer was a 2000 graduate of St. Mary’s College. She was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph’s Parish.  Jennifer was a published children's author. Her book " Spaceship to the Center of My Brain" was written to help kids deal with the fear of having an MRI. She knew the fear kids faced as she had more than 100 MRI procedures. Her book with cartoon characters was written to help  these kids deal with anxiety leading up to this procedure. 100's of these books were sold on Amazon and prestigious hospitals like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Mass General Hospital, NY Presbyterian, Northwestern Medical Center are just a few of the more than 50 medical centers who make this book available to young patients. Jennifer was featured on local television stations and in the South Bend Tribune lauding this wonderful accomplishment. She was a volunteer for the “Ride for Kids” fundraiser for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.  Memorial Contributions can be sent to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. https://curethekids.org