Jennifer B. Croghan, of Powell, Ohio, was 47 years old when she left our world on February 25th, 2017 after a yearlong battle with the awful disease we know as cancer. Her final days were spent at Kobacker House surrounded by family and friends whom she touched in large and small meaningful ways throughout her life.

Jennifer was born on December 12, 1969 to Gary and Terry Dye. She is survived by both her parents, and her beloved sister known as a lover of all things inappropriately funny and sometimes macabre, Tracy “TA” Lauvray. Jennifer grew up loving the outdoors, as long as it wasn’t too hot, too cold or had too much pollen in the air. She camped with her parents and extended family from a young age. Jennifer had a wicked and sometimes cutting sense of humor that kept her family on their toes at all family gatherings. Her beautiful giddy, cackling laugh will be missed by all. She graduated in 1988 from Licking Heights High School, after having been a cheerleader and their homecoming queen, lover of heavy metal music and giving her parents a run for their money with her mischievous teenage adventures.

After graduating high school, Jennifer married and was a Navy wife for 7 years. Her life during this time would give her a great gift, which was one of her greatest challenges and yet a beautiful blessing - her son Steffan Davis, who was born prematurely and with Cerebral Palsy which confines him to a wheelchair. As a young mother, Jennifer learned quickly and became a tenacious and fearless advocate on Steffan’s behalf, never taking no for an answer and relentlessly pursuing all forms of benefits, treatments and technology that would allow Steffan to live a complete and fulfilling life. In doing so, she taught all who knew her how to be advocates for those less fortunate than ourselves and to find ways to improve the lives of those with disabilities. In 2000, Jennifer’s life was blessed once again with the birth of her cherished daughter, Elaina. Raising a daughter presented new challenges to Jennifer, which she tackled with her own unique sense of humor and relentless preparation and planning, much to the annoyance of Elaina. Jennifer was always planning and preparing. She reveled in watching her daughter grow in to the beautiful, dynamic and quirky, fun young woman Lanes is today. Steffan and Elaina are truly a reflection of Jennifer’s determination to raise wise and compassionate children.

Jennifer returned to Ohio shortly after Steffan’s birth and began to grow in to the confident, driven, articulate woman she was when she passed. Over a 20 year time span she pushed herself to pursue her dreams and achieved them on her own. She truly was self-made. She worked full time as a legal secretary at Wiles, Boyle, Burkholder & Bringardner, while pursuing her undergraduate education. She completed her undergraduate degree at Otterbein College, and not long after completed Capital University’s paralegal studies program, earning her paralegal degree, still working full time. She continued to work at the Wiles law firm as a paralegal, when she made the decision to pursue a law degree. In 2005 she obtained her law degree from Capital University School of Law and continued to work at the Wiles firm, eventually becoming the firm’s first female partner. In 2014, Jennifer joined the Frost Brown Todd law firm and flourished there as a member of the Government Services Practice Group, working closely with her friend and mentor Gene Hollins. She was surprised at how she had found her niche area of practice, Municipal Law, and how much she loved it. She thoroughly enjoyed advising and advocating for the municipalities she represented, as well as working as a prosecutor for mayor’s courts.

In 2007 Jennifer met her match and the love of her life, Michael Croghan. Michael was the yin to Jen’s yang. They balanced each other – Jennifer being fiery and quick to judgment, Michael being easy going and more thought out when needed. Michael also brought to Jennifer’s life two children that Jennifer adored, Kelly and Matthew. She took great pride in the driven young adults both have become. Michael and Jennifer shared a unique and beautiful love. Having been through previous relationships, they worked through issues with fiery opinions, combined with humor, laughter and compromise and truly loved each other with all their hearts. They shared a love of zip-lining, target practice at Black Wing Shooting Club, driving the Jeep with the roof back and binge watching Netflix with plenty of peanut M&Ms.
Our beloved Jennifer is survived by her husband, Michael Croghan, their children Steffan Davis, Kelly Croghan, Matthew Croghan and Elaina Casto, parents Gary and Terry Dye, sister Tracy Lauvray (Brian), nieces Anya Lauvray and Aria Lauvray. She will be missed and remembered by her aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. Special thank you to her Aunt Jerry, Uncle Mike, cousins Stephanie and Christine. Her dogs Tucker and Loki will surely miss Jennifer and their backyard frisbee and basketball sessions. Jennifer had an incredibly diverse and magical universe of friends and colleagues from all communities and backgrounds. Her family has been truly touched by the outpouring of love and support from all of you. Jennifer and her family surely would not have been able to persevere through the last year without the prayers, visits, and good deeds we were blessed with from all of you. It all left us speechless at times. The family offers its profound and heartfelt gratitude for the grace and strength provided by all of you during this horribly difficult time.

As requested (not surprisingly) by Jennifer there was a private family service and burial. For those wishing to make a donation in Jennifer’s memory, please consider:

Pilot Dogs, Inc.
625 West Town Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
http://www.pilotdogs.org/donate-now

Miracle League of Central Ohio
P.O. Box 1303
Dublin, Ohio 43017
http://ohiomiracleleague.org/index.html

Kobacker House
800 McConnell Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43214
https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/programs/hospice-giving