Jen was always smiling

Family, friends remember Underhill as happy, caring person

Lori Hammelman
Posted 7/27/18

This week past week has been a difficult one for many members of the Rochelle community.

Early Monday morning, Romeoville Police responded to a call that would leave many here grieving the loss of a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and friend.

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Jen was always smiling

Family, friends remember Underhill as happy, caring person

Posted

ROCHELLE — This week past week has been a difficult one for many members of the Rochelle community.
Early Monday morning, Romeoville Police responded to a call that would leave many here grieving the loss of a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and friend.
Police found Jennifer Underhill’s body in a grassy area near a warehouse parking lot when they investigated a reported damaged semi trailer cab parked in the lot.
On Wednesday, police took three people into custody in connection with Underhill’s death — George Hooper, Rose Parker and Amanda Weck.
Hooper is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He is also being charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and being an armed habitual criminal. Parker is being charged with two counts of obstructing justice and Weck is being charged with reckless discharge of a firearm.
All three suspects reside at the same Plainfield address.
According to autopsy reports, Underhill’s cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma injuries.
On Friday, family and friends celebrated her life when they laid her to rest.

Tonia Underhill will always remember her sister, Jen, as someone who cared about people and who had a positive outlook on life.
“From a baby she always had a smile on her face,” said Underhill. “Jen always saw the good in people, nothing less… she was not a negative person.”
Family and friends reminisced about Jen Underhill during her funeral services on Friday in Rochelle, while still trying to come to grips with her tragic death.
As people shared memories of Underhill and described her personality, one word was repeated often— happy
“I will always remember her smiles and laughter… she was always a happy woman.”
“Jen was always smiling, I know she would be smiling seeing how many people’s lives she did touch and the fact she may not have known or realized it.”
“She was a great person and always brought a smile on the face of everyone she met. She will be greatly missed.”
Underhill’s daughter, Desirae Turner, smiled as she shared a memory.
“She would greet everyone at the Shell station…welcome them. She loved to do greet people,” Turner said. “She was fearless, and even when everyone else would be mad, she’d be happy.”
As evident by the support shown by the community, Underhill touched many lives.
Tonia posted messages on social media, attesting to the amount of people that have reached out to her and her family.
“My sister definitely has touched the lives of many, and I mean many people. I’m so thankful for the love and support…people have been so kind and caring and giving. This is very difficult to process and to know my family has the support from the entire community and across the whole country is just mind blowing and simply warming…forever strong in a small town.”