Jennifer Jo Walker Myers Obituary

Jennifer Jo Walker Myers, age 52, passed away on Saturday February 24, 2024, surrounded by her family and loved ones after a courageous 10-year battle with cancer.

Born April 28th, 1971, she was the daughter of Kenneth and Cheryl (Pavolko) Walker of Homer City. Jenn was a 1989 graduate of Homer Center High School and a 1993 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. In her college days she joined the Lamba Epsilon chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority which produced many lasting friendships.

On April 13th, 1996, she married the love of her life, David. In addition to her parents and husband she is survived by the following loved ones. Two sisters Jamie Brown of Homer City and Jillian Walker of Flower Mound, TX. She is also survived by her loving in laws — mother-in-law Sally Myers of Pleasant Gap, sister-in-law Jolene Carbone and husband Bill of Port Matilda, and Rosemary Miller of Selma, CA.

Anyone that knew Jenn knew her loves were her nieces and nephews. She is survived by her nieces Jennifer Miller McColm and husband Michael of Fowler, CA; Ashley Mussey Nevling and husband Matt of Boalsburg, PA; Katelyn Brown of Homer City, PA (also her God daughter), Claire Patterson and nephew Silas Patterson of Flower Mound, TX. Jenn was also blessed with three great nieces and two great nephews - Allison and Annabella McColm of Fowler, CA; and Dailey, Brooks and Boden Nevling of Boalsburg, PA. She also has a loving God son, Luke Dembosky of Las Vegas, NV.

Jenn is also survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Her fur babies were her other loves and Lloyd Bryce was with her always. She will be rejoined with fur babies Maxine & Chase Nittany.

Preceding her in death were her paternal grandparents James (Barney) and Dorothy Walker, maternal grandparents Joseph and Josephine Pavolko, her father-in-law Bill Myers and brother-in-law Dale Miller.

Jenn was a Senior Vice President at S&T Bank and enjoyed a successful career spending a majority of it in their retail division. Her 30 1/2 years at the bank allowed her to form many friendships and relationships with amazing coworkers, many of whom she called very close friends. In 2019, Jenn received the inaugural Inspire and Influence award from S&T among her 1000+ colleagues. It was one of the greatest honors of her career.

In 2019, Jenn was the recipient of the Indiana County ATHENA award recognizing her achievements in developing women. Jenn served as a member of the PA Women and Banking committee which brings female bank executives together from across the state.

In addition to her career, Jenn was active in the Indiana County community serving as the Secretary of the Indiana Regional Medical Centers' Foundation board, a member of the United Way of Indiana County for seven years serving as their 2014 co chair of the annual campaign. Jenn also held many leadership roles in the Quota Club of Indiana County. Jenn received the 2014 Indiana County Female Civic Leader of the year and was a 2016 Finalist for the Indiana County Athena award before becoming the recipient in 2019. She was named Quota International of Indiana County's Volunteer of the year in 2013.

In 2021, Jenn became involved in Cervivor, which is a nonprofit group that promotes advocacy for cervical cancer awareness and support for cervical cancer patients. She was featured in the 2022 Cervivor branding campaign and was part of the planning committee serving as co-chair of the fundraising committee for the January 2022 CCAM (Cervical Cancer Awareness Month). In 2023, Jenn was the co-chair of the month long CCAM which is celebrated worldwide by Cervivor sisters. Jenn received Cervivor's Erica Frazier Stum Living with Cancer Award during the 2022 CCAM Summit. In 2022 and 2023 she became a graduate of Cervivor School which is an exclusive event to become a Cervivor Advocate. She was awarded the 2022 Cervivor Champion Award which is presented to those who promote advocacy of cervical cancer prevention and support.

In her other cancer advocacy work, Jenn was highlighted in the 2020 MD Anderson Annual report for her involvement in their online support groups and was able to connect to some very special people. Jenn was featured in 2022 AACR (American Association of Cancer Research) annual report to congress, highlighting her journey and promoting cancer research funds. In December of 2022, she was appointed to the National Cancer Institute's Cervical Cancer Task Force. She also worked as a patient consultant with several pharmaceutical companies and institutions to bring the patient perspective to doctors, scientists and pharmaceutical sales representatives who continue the work of developing and promoting new cancer treatment regimens.

Outside of her work and community involvement, Jenn loved spending time with family and friends. In 2017, Dave and Jenn bought a second home on Dave's childhood golf course at Nittany Country Club. Jenn and Dave decided to locate to Centre County permanently and moved in the fall of 2022 to their Nittany home.

Jenn was incredibly blessed with a strong support system of friends and family. When she was diagnosed with cancer for the third time in five years, a friend started "Jenn's Tribe" a group which Jenn chose to use all donations for Indiana Regional Medical Cancer Center's transportation for Cancer Patients. Jenn noticed the need for financial assistance for many local patients who were having hardships with transportation needed to get to and from their multiple treatments. This was a strong passion for Jenn, since she knew how lucky she was to have such a great support system with her at all times. She was recognized in the IRMC donors report to create awareness for the need to expand the transportation services.

In 2024, Jenn along with her family established The Nennie Foundation. The nonprofit was developed to help cancer patients to assist them financially with their cancer journey. Jenn was blessed to be able to navigate her journey financially, unlike many others in the same situation. The Nennie Foundation (named after what her nieces and nephews called her) aims to provide assistance for those not as fortunate. The "small acts of kindness" represent how Jenn liked to shower her family and friends with small gifts as thank you, get well or milestone celebrations. The plan for the foundation is to have an annual golf outing in Centre County and an annual 5K Run / 1 k Walk in Indiana County to help raise funds. The Foundation will work closely with local cancer patients through IRMC's Cancer Center where Jenn was treated, and cervical cancer patients through Cervivor which became a huge part of Jenn's journey in her final years.

It was Jenn's wish that no flowers be sent, but instead to consider donations to The Nennie Foundation so that Jenn's wish would be granted to help as many cancer patients as possible in her honor. Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com.

At Jenn's request, two Celebrations of Life will be held: April 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Indiana, PA; and April 27 at the Nittany Country Club, Mingoville, PA. The times of both will be announced.