‘A gentle guide’: Geneva woman helps pets and owners through end-of-life care

Jennifer Jordan felt a degree of “burnout” taking a hold of her after working for 16 years at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas for the Department of the Army, and one year for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

She had a fallback option in mind, partly because she grew up in a country home she says was “full of animals,” but mostly because she learned about canine massage to help one of her dogs with various nerve and bone structure issues.

Jordan left her government job in 2023 and spent a year with her sister in Dallas before coming to Illinois to undertake canine massage studies at Caris BodyWorks in Chicago.

Her mentor, Caris co-owner Denise Theobald, convinced her to consider moving to Illinois after she noticed how much Jordan liked the Fox Valley region.

“The Fox River was nice and everyone was outside,” Jordan noted. With Theobald’s encouragement, Jordan made the move to Geneva, where she has lived for a year.

In the meantime, Jordan became certified in canine massage and end-of-life processes for dogs, leading to her creation of Wonder Mutt Wellness in January of 2024.

In a service in which Jordan makes house calls to clients in the Fox Valley, Wonder Mutt Wellness specializes in canine massage therapy, end-of-life comfort care and pet sitting.

“For my massage clients, in addition to therapy, I talk about doing things to make the pet more comfortable,” said Jordan, who is certified through the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupuncture and Massage.

“I do offer end-of-life care, and I am always incorporating that (knowledge) into every aspect of my pet sitting and giving massages,” she noted. “Some clients are seeking both pet-sitting and massage, and that works out nicely.”

As an end-of-life doula, Jordan also is trained on how to conduct support groups for pet loss. She has a six-week program planned for next February and March.

“I am trying to get the word out about how I can support people in end of life for their pets, from going to vet appointments, helping get the pet in and out of the car, explaining what pets are going through,” Jordan added.

“I explain what different routes they can take, as owners have different price points and different thoughts on what is right for their pet. I tell them what they can expect,” she said.

Setting up “bucket lists” for pets in their final weeks or days can help take the fear out of it for clients, Jordan notes, instead of going through a very rigid and structured decision-making process.

“It doesn’t take the grief away, it just doesn’t,” Jordan said of her service or any other a pet owner might seek. “That is a very hard thing to diminish, so it’s more of being a gentle guide on what to expect.”

In creating a guide to senior pets, Jordan says the simplest approach is to “keep them moving and keep them eating.”

“That’s the basics,” she added. “Do they want to be engaged (in walking and eating)? If so, everything is fine.”

Those interested in Wonder Mutt services can call or text (337) 788-0870 for information or email jen@wondermuttwellness.com.

How did Jordan come up with the Wonder Mutt name for her business? It comes from experience with a lot of animals, many of them older.

“As an adult, I got into being a rescue for several animal groups,” Jordan said. “I always called them my ‘Thundering Herd of Wonder Mutts.’

“They had a lot of problems, as they were old, sick or abused, and I just took them all in,” she said of her side activity during her time in Kansas City when employed as a federal worker.

“I also did a lot of hospice foster care, so I was kind of their last destination, and they all have a special place in my heart.”

The name Wonder Mutt obviously indicates Jordan provides services for dogs. But she doesn’t rule out cats.

“I have a cat at home, and I will do (service for) cats,” Jordan said. But those cats have to be willing to accept touching from a human for a period of time. That’s not a common trait for all cats.

“If they are willing, I am happy to massage one,” she said.

An EcoPark pitch

Last spring, the River Corridor Foundation introduced the idea of an EcoPark along the river in St. Charles, following the lead of the “Wild Mile” floating garden project on the Chicago River.

The floating garden has been on a potential to-do list for the foundation as it continues its overall push with the Active River Plan.

The next step comes when John Rabchuk of the foundation makes presentations to the city’s government services committee Monday, Oct. 27, and the St. Charles Park District board Tuesday, Oct. 28, seeking city and parks support for such a concept along the river near Pottawatomie Park.

Given the scope of the undertaking for an EcoPark concept of the type that nonprofit Urban Rivers specializes in, the foundation has to have enthusiastic voices and support on both boards to even consider it.

Given the requirement of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that the city or park district would own the EcoPark, makes it even more vital. The IDNR considers these projects as “temporary” docks, meaning the city can decide to move it to a different riverfront location if needed.

Without all of the support falling into place for funding, design, construction and maintenance of a floating garden, the foundation’s vision would likely be dashed.

In talking to Rabchuk last year, that vision was quite clear.

“Design elements like floating gardens and improved riverfront trails such as those incorporated in the Wild Mile are also components of the Active River Plan,” Rabchuk said. “Just imagine riverfront boardwalks winding through floating gardens as pedestrians stroll from Pottawatomie Park into downtown St. Charles to visit First Street Plaza and our many restaurants and shops.”

Big hug for Lazarus

Kristi Athas was a bit sheepish in accepting the 41st annual William D. Barth Award for Community Service on behalf of the Lazarus House homeless shelter last week.

Athas reminded those in attendance at TriCity Family Service’s Barth Award dinner in Geneva that she’s been the executive director only since last May at the St. Charles homeless shelter.

She was quick to say the award given by TCFS was mostly about the past leaders and board members of Lazarus, as well as the generous donors in the room and community.

That type of support results in tens of thousands of meals a year being provided, as well as various health and dental services.

It was a reminder of the important work unfolding at the recently expanded Lazarus House, now a shelter capable of providing space for 82 individuals. The age range at the shelter currently is from the youngest at 9 months to the oldest at 81.

In concluding, Athas told a story of giving a recent visitor a tour of the shelter.

“In looking around the shelter, she told me, ‘This place feels like a giant hug,’” Athas said.

So did the Barth Award ceremony.

Country House closing

After some months of speculation, a social media post last week indicated the Country House restaurant in Geneva would close Nov. 12.

Because most social media threads should be checked, and this sort of speculation has occurred in the past, a call to Country House confirmed the restaurant on Kirk Road at Fabyan Parkway is indeed closing.

The pursuit of a buyer continues, which gives some hope to those who have enjoyed this unique restaurant for the past 20-plus years.

It was my go-to place for carryout during the COVID pandemic, mostly because its signature cheeseburger made me feel good during those tough times.

A photo and a rebrand

Simply because we found it cute and humorous, we took a photo at last year’s Scarecrow Weekend in St. Charles of our 5-year-old granddaughter Quinn by the Schramm Construction Corp. scarecrow.

A sign for Quinn Design-Build Inc. was part of the display, making it look like it was her company.

The company actually belongs to Ryan and Nancy Quinn, who recently launched a rebrand for Quinn Design Build through their acquisition of Schramm Construction.

Ryan was Schramm’s project manager and Nancy has specialized in construction accounting for two decades. That makes it quite likely these two will succeed with their construction company serving the Fox Valley.

If they had a scarecrow at this year’s festival, we did not come across it when navigating the big crowds.

Otherwise, there would have been another grandkid photo on the phone.

• dheun@sbcglobal.net