Vivian T. Jenna
Aug. 22, 1932-May 13, 2025
Sacramento, CA

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Vivian Theresa Jenna on May 13, 2025.

Her desired career was to be a race car driver! Today, we believe she has entered heaven with the speed of lightning, completing her journey and standing before our Lord God the Father and Jesus Christ. They were waiting for her to give her a trophy for excellence. All the police in Redwood City who knew her remembered how this charming lady would flash her smile when they pulled her over for speeding home after work. They, too, loved Mrs. Jenna, who was well-known for driving her classic green 1965 Mustang convertible through town! Oh, and she never got a ticket!

In real time, our mother empowered her daughters, Teresa (Terry) and Jeaninne (Gigi) to strive and achieve greatness and to choose their own path. She knew our generation was free enough to cross into a man's world, driving any car we liked, and go anywhere we wanted to. She never held us back. She believed that all children given an education and parental love can do any job anywhere in the world. That’s why she chose the profession of Special Education. Hundreds of children, encouraged and taught by our mother, one of the first SPED teachers formally trained in the State of California in the 1960s. Her social justice values and belief in diversity were passed on to everyone she engaged with in her life.

And her passion, cultivating roses in her Redwood City home garden, made her happy. Her love of gardening showed brightly in her retirement residences in Sacramento, the city where her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren lived. Everyone knew our mom loved English garden style, and so both family and friends always gave her bouquets.

Vivian is survived by daughters, Terry and Gigi, grandchildren Taylor & Paige and great-grandchildren Avery & Luke. Vivian is also survived by her twin sister, Lillian, and nephews Curt and Craig.

Today, as we celebrate Vivian’s special life, we ask that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Vivian's name to either the docent education fund at Filoli (https://51772.blackbaudhosting.com/51772/Annual-Fund-Donations) - this is where our mom volunteered her time as a docent, or to the Council for Exceptional Children-CEC (https://exceptionalchildren.org/donate/tribute-wall

Tags: teacher/educator