Kaneland grad remembered as caring and hard-working

Jenny Flaherty was ready to give up many of her Christmas presents this year.

The 19-year-old Waubonsee Community College student told her family she should be included in the adults' Secret Santa exchange instead of getting individual gifts from her relatives.

"That's how she would think, that people could save money and not have to buy her presents," said her aunt, Wendy Flaherty.

The bubbly and energetic Kaneland graduate died Monday in a one-car crash in Virgil Township.

Family and friends remembered her as a happy and responsible teen who was always looking to help others.

On Monday, she had offered to pick up a friend from the hospital and was on her way there when her car rolled over along Route 38 near Meredith Road in Virgil Township.

"She was always trying to better herself," said her cousin, Emily Flaherty. "She was always really busy, and she worked hard at everything she did."

Jenny Flaherty had her CNA certification and had worked at Provena Mercy Center Hospital in Aurora and the Michealsen Health Center in Batavia.

At Kaneland High School, she was on the track and volleyball teams and worked in the early-childhood program at the Fox Valley Career Center.

Although she was studying nursing, she was considering a different job in the medical field, like an X-ray technician, her cousin said.

"She was always doing stuff to make you laugh," Emily Flaherty said. "And she was always there for me."

She was especially close to her family and was always quick to laugh at a joke, Wendy Flaherty said.

"She was such a good-hearted kid," she said. "You don't want somebody like that to leave."

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. in Elburn. A wake service will be at 6:30 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Church of St. Mary on County Line Road in Maple Park. There will be no visitation preceding the Mass.

A memorial scholarship will be established in her name. Donations can be sent to the Jennifer Flaherty Memorial, P.O. Box 66, Elburn 60119.