Obituary of Jennifer Kathryn Moldenhauer

Jennifer Kathryn Moldenhauer, 35, of Chapel Hill, slipped away from this world unexpectedly on November 19, 2023.  

Jennifer, also known in her family as Jenzo and Jenn Jenn, was born on June 15, 1988 to Mark John Moldenhauer and Christine Holloway Loehr and immediately filled the lives of those around her with joy. One of Jennifer’s favorite sayings was “Family Over Everything” and it was this motto that she lived by. Jennifer loved being an aunt and adored her family, so much so that she decided to build a house on the family land that her parents and sister shared. She was a huge UNC and Green Bay Packers fan, loved dancing, deep sea fishing, butterflies, and had a special relationship with animals. As a child, she, along with the help of her mother, raised a flock of ducklings who had lost their mother. Jennifer and a friend found them while on a walk and the ducks, as most animals did, fell in love with Jennifer and followed her home. This love extended to her precious pets, Preston, Cameron, Rocky, and Skeigh.  She was also an exceptional athlete and played basketball from elementary school to high school. 

Jennifer graduated from Northwood High School in Pittsboro in 2006 and went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she graduated in 2010. After college, Jennifer chose a different path and began working for the family business, Moldenhauer Landscaping Inc. From gopher, to dump truck driver, to officer manager, she did it all; however, her favorite part of the job was working with her dad, who was her idol, and her brother, Matthew, her best friend and “grasshoppa”.  After the business was sold in 2021, Jennifer returned to her former passion, caring for those in need, and was employed by Visiting Angels at the time of her death.

Many have said that Jennifer had a smile that could light up a room; however, few people knew what was hidden behind that beautiful smile.  Jennifer suffered from extreme anxiety and bouts of depression.  Unbeknownst to her family, Jennifer self-medicated in an attempt to ease her pain and, as a result, she died of an accidental drug overdose.  Her family shares this information in the hope that it will bring attention to the growing Fentanyl crisis and help save a life and another family from this excruciating pain.  Many people who end up with fentanyl in their system aren’t even aware they have taken it because it is commonly mixed with other drugs. If you are an addict, please consider getting help; however, if you don’t, please consider purchasing fentanyl testing strips and Narcan, both of which could ultimately save your life. 

Jennifer is survived by her parents, Mark Moldenhauer and Christine Loehr, siblings, Angie Moldenhauer, Matthew Moldenhauer, and Melissa Loehr (Spencer), nieces and nephews, Mia, Mya, Macee, Abby, Crosby, and Langston, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, and countless others.  Jennifer was preceded in death by her sister, Laurie Moldenhauer.

A memorial service to celebrate Jennifer’s life will be conducted June 15, 2024, on what would have been her 36^th birthday, at 11:00 am at Walker’s Funeral Home, 11680 US Highway 15 501 N, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  If you care to, please wear peacock feather and/or butterfly colors to the memorial service as they were some of Jennifer’s favorite things. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation in Jennifer’s name to Prevent+Ed, an organization that works to reduce or prevent the harms of alcohol and other drug use through education, intervention and advocacy, at prevented.org.   We love you to infinity and beyond, Jenzo.  Fly with the butterflies until we meet again.