Jenifer Caitlyn Huismann – Obituary

Jenifer Caitlyn Huismann, born Jenifer McManus, age 50, born April 13, 1967 in Plainfield, NJ, passed away at her home in late April after an extended illness. In her youth, she swam competively and was noted for her speed in the freestyle. She graduated from Northgate high school in Walnut Creek, CA. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA in 1990 Jen married and began her career in international marketing at Siemens Corp in Camarillo, CA. The family moved to Florence, AL in 1993, where Jen worked in Public Relations for Tomlinson Advertising, then for Ed Robbins in the container Division, and later as the marketing coordinator for startup ENSR Corp. In 1998, the family moved to Huntsville where her full-time effort was to raise two infant sons Brendan and Blake who were the love s of her life. Jen was a skilled copy writer and editor, liaison, trade show manager, events coordinator, and was very results focused. Jenifer was currently working on a Masters from Liberty University in Virginia. From 2006-2008, Jen helped managed an office and sales to defense contractors for APEX Business Centers in Huntsville. From 2008-2011, around part-time pre-school teaching, she was a civic volunteer raising money and members for Heritage Junior Women’s Club, Angels for Children, Suitcases for Children, Women’s Advocacy Center, Second Mile Development, CAJA and Scouting. In 2011, Jen restarted her career as a full-time pre-school teacher. She was a very successful director of Kids Kingdom on Bob Wallace Ave., then in 2012 moved to Montessori Learning Center on Pansy Street where she became a certified Montessori Instructor for several years. During this time she completed online graduate courses with straight A’s toward a Masters in Counseling at Liberty University. Later she taught 4 year olds at Valley Fellowship Christian Academy and last taught at Trinity UMC Child Development Center. Jen took on the most difficult students, developed expertise in working with challenging kids of all races, especially those on the autism spectrum, and was highly respected by parents at all schools. She welcomed each student and parent with love, taught integrity and respect, and accumulated her own set of teaching materials. Jen was Roman Catholic all her life, a strong Christian blessed by the Holy Spirit with understanding, counsel, and humility. In Huntsville, she regularly attended Cappuccino & Christ contemporary services at Trinity United Methodist Church for many years, and especially enjoyed the music and children dancing at the close of the service. Her many friends at C&C Singles class miss her. . She enjoyed music from the ‘50s and ‘60s and loved to dance.

JenCait enjoyed trips to the beach, organizing block parties, sunbathing, helping others, trying new meals at out of the way restaurants, and, always thrifty, finding great deals at flea markets and garage sales. She loved to decorate her home with wrought iron, entertain guests, collect metal crosses, dance and watch good movies. She never met a stranger, had a gift for making everyone feel welcome and important, was always ready to listen, and people immediately connected with her. Her nickname in high school and everywhere she went in Huntsville was “Ms. Sunshine”. A devoted pet lover, her overactive, very fast black dog Lucy Grace misses Jen throwing the ball and the long walks around the neighborhood and Monte Sano trails. She is survived by her parents, James and Lynne McManus and younger brother James McManus and his wife Meredith of Walnut Creek, CA, two sons Brendan and Blake Huismann, two aunts Elaine McManus of Fanwood, New Jersey and Elizabeth Detmer of Williamsburg, Virginia and two cousins Christopher and Daniel Detmer and their families, both of Virginia. There will be a visitation at Berryhill Funeral Home, 2305 Memorial Parkway, Huntsville on Wednesday, May 10 from 6 pm to 8 pm. The public is invited to a funeral service of resurrection at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Airport Road on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 10:00 AM Jenifer will be laid to rest at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette, California in the sunshine she always loved. Memorials should be sent to the local Food Bank in Huntsville at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/foodbanknorthal or to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, SVDP District Council office, 625 Airport Rd., Huntsville, AL 35802. Jenifer’s family wished to thank all her friends who loved and cared for her, especially her two boys, her friend Mel Adams and her friend Shannon who was there for her when she needed her help.