Jennifer Lynn Garthoffner

Jennifer Lynn Garthoffner

October 16, 1982 - January 19, 2023

Jennifer Lynn Garthoffner

October 16, 1982 - January 19, 2023

Obituary

Jennifer Lynn Garthoffner
October 16, 1982 – January 19, 2023

Jennifer Lynn Garthoffner, age forty, of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, passed away on January 19, 2023.

Jennifer was born to Charles (“Bill”) and Dorothy Graham on October 16, 1982 at Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley, California.  She had beautiful red curly hair and a smile that could light up a room.  The second of Bill and Dorothy’s three children, Jennifer was the quintessential middle child, a natural peacemaker and at times, quiet and shy, but also adventurous and high-spirited.  Jennifer and her parents and siblings spent every summer traveling the United States in the family motorhome or at the beach windsurfing, waterskiing or swimming.  When she was little, Jennifer dreamed of being a teacher and a mommy.

Jennifer attended Brawley Union High School where she lettered in tennis and graduated with high honors in June 2000.  Thereafter, Jennifer attended California State University, Long Beach, where she met the love of her life and future husband, Jason Garthoffner, in the dorms.  She joined the Gamma Theta chapter of Sigma Kappa Sorority and was an active member all four years of college.  After earning her Bachelor of Arts from Long Beach State in 2004, Jennifer also attended the masters’ program at California State University, Long Beach, graduating cum laude in 2007 with a Master of Arts.

Following graduation, Jennifer began working as an adjunct professor at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California, where she taught communication studies, public speaking, and interpersonal communications.  Although she taught mainly at Saddleback College for the last sixteen years, she also taught communication studies at Chapman University in Chapman, California, and Fullerton College in Fullerton, California.

On August 4, 2006, exactly four years from their first date, Jennifer and Jason were married at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Huntington Beach, California.  Daughter Catherine Anne was born on February 15, 2011, and son William Graham (“Graham”) followed on June 16, 2013.  Jennifer was extremely active in her children’s lives: she was “room mom” for both her children’s classrooms, volunteered at their elementary school, and participated in her local Moms club.  The greatest love, joy and blessing in Jennifer’s life was her family, especially her children.

Prior to having children, Jennifer was an avid runner, running in both the Orange County half marathon and the Los Angeles marathon.  After the birth of her children, Jennifer’s free time was spent participating in any and all of Catherine’s and Graham’s school and extracurricular activities, usually also “encouraging” Jason to participate as well.  Jennifer also loved playing tennis and continued to do so all throughout her adult life.  She was an amateur photographer and enjoyed taking photographs and capturing family moments.  On the rare occasion there was free time in the Garthoffner family, Jennifer would plan mini-vacations and trips for her family.  She absolutely loved to travel and explore new places.

Jennifer is survived by her husband Jason Garthoffner, and their two children, Catherine Garthoffner and William “Graham” Garthoffner of Rancho Santa Margarita, California; parents Charles and Dorothy Graham of Brawley, California; sister Charlotte Graham Flanigan, brother-in-law George Flanigan, and nephews George Flanigan and Samuel Flanigan of San Diego, California; brother Charles Graham and his fiancé Dina Ammsso, of San Diego, California; father-in-law and mother-in-law Egon and Leah Garthoffner of Laguna Woods, California; brother-in-law Eric Garthoffner of Santa Monica, California; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The Garthoffner, Graham, and Flanigan families would like to express their sincere and heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California for the tireless care they provided to Jennifer and the warmth and compassion they showed to her the last week of her life, as well as the emotional support they provided to her family.  We will forever be thankful.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Jennifer’s life will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Saddleback Church, Tent 2, located at 1 Saddleback Parkway, Lake Forest, California, 92630, with a reception to follow.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Mission Hospital Foundation (https:supportmissionhospital.org).

Memorial Service

  • Date & Time: March 2, 2023 (10:00 AM)
  • Venue: Saddleback Church - Tent #2
  • Location: 1 Saddleback Drive Lake Forest, CA 92630 - (Get Directions)

Mission Hospital Foundation

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