Jennifer Lynn Nappi

Jennifer Lynn Nappi, 78, of Syracuse, passed away on Friday leaving behind a life filled with faith, creativity, friendship, individuality, and, above all, an extraordinary love for her family.

Jennifer was the beloved mother of Joseph Nappi; mother-in-law of Maria Teresa Nappi (née Grispino), whom she always simply called her “daughter”; and devoted grandmother of Augusto and Amadeo Nappi.

A gifted and accomplished artist, Jennifer had a lifelong love of art and design, especially the Arts and Crafts movement and Stickley furniture. She exhibited her work at art shows and sold her paintings. Art was part of who Jennifer was and one of the ways she expressed her love. When each of her grandsons was expected, she painted murals in their bedrooms. As they grew, she created personalized art books for them, painted and did crafts with them, baked cakes and cookies, and was never too grown-up to get down on the floor and play.

Augusto and Amadeo were truly the center of Grandma Jennifer’s world. For more than a decade, she made the four-hour drive to see them nearly every month, even though highway driving terrified her and weather was so unpredictable. When they couldn’t be together, there were long phone calls and FaceTime’s. She attended every birthday, sacrament, talent show, holiday, and important occasion she possibly could.

One only had to walk into Jennifer’s home to understand how deeply she loved them. Their photographs and artwork, along with the things she painted and created for them, filled virtually every room, every wall, and the refrigerator. Her home was quite literally an ode to the two boys she adored.

Jennifer also treasured friendship. She had a wonderful group of friends, some of whom had been part of her life since they were teenagers—friendships that endured through the many seasons of life.

For many years, Jennifer worked as a hairstylist at Hair It Is, where she loved her clients and treated them like family. In her later years, she worked in the bakery at Wegmans, a job she genuinely loved.

Jennifer had a strong and enduring faith. During difficult times, she would write Bible verses on index cards and place them in prominent spots around her home and her family’s as reminders of where she found strength and comfort. In many ways, she was ahead of her time, practicing yoga and meditation long before either became commonplace.

She also loved music, especially guitar music, and had the remarkable experience of attending Woodstock, where she saw Jimi Hendrix and others. Recently, she shared those memories with Augusto for his school project, telling him firsthand about the music, the mud, and the traffic.

Jennifer knew what she liked—and certainly knew what she didn’t. She was unapologetically herself. She loved cappuccino, Ocean City, bike riding, memories from Tom’s Clam Cove, ricotta cookies, Hershey’s chocolate, Pear Glacé lotion, and her favorite car, a 1969 Corvette Stingray.

Those little things made Jennifer unmistakably Jennifer. She taught those around her that it is okay to like what you like, to find what brings you happiness and peace, and simply to be yourself.

Perhaps the greatest gift Jennifer gave her family could never be bought. She gave them her time, her creativity, her presence, and her whole heart.

She drove the miles. She made the phone calls. She sat on the floor. She painted the pictures. She baked the cookies. She showed up.

Jennifer leaves behind her art, her stories, her faith, lifelong friendships, and countless memories. Most of all, she leaves behind a family who will continue to see evidence of her love everywhere.

In keeping with Jennifer’s wishes, there will be no public funeral or memorial services. Her family asks that those who knew and loved her remember Jennifer in their own way and celebrate the many memories she leaves behind.

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