Jennifer Lois Vollen Hollen, 47, Sauk Rapids

March 9, 1969 - August 6, 2016

Jennifer Lois Vollen Hollen, age 47, Sauk Rapids, MN died Saturday, August 6, 2016 at the St. Cloud Hospital. While in the emergency room, she was surrounded by family and friends who comforted her in her final hour.

Funeral services will be Monday, August 15, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Atonement Lutheran Church, St. Cloud. Visitation will be Sunday, August 14, 2016 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will be in North Star Cemetery, St. Cloud.

Jennifer was born March 9, 1969 in St. Cloud, MN to Talleiv “Tolly” and Karen (Helm) Vollen. She attended Westwood Elementary School, North Junior High School and graduated from Apollo High School in 1987, where she lettered in tennis and cross-country skiing, and sang in the concert choir. She loved music, and also played and performed harp and piano. She attended the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN with a music scholarship and also St. Cloud State University. Jennifer married Ted Hollen on August 21, 1993 at Atonement Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, where she was a member and was also baptized and confirmed as a child and young adult. Although Jennifer and Ted later divorced, their support for and kindness towards one another continued.

Jennifer was a faithful, spirit-led Christian woman and mother who saw goodness in everything and everyone. Her 11-year-old daughter Ava was the light of her life. Jennifer had a beaming, bright smile, and a kind, joyful heart. Much of her professional life was caring for persons with developmental and physical disabilities, always with thoughtfulness and dignity. Her caring and loving spirit is further displayed through her choice to be an organ and tissue donor. She loved animals and supported the local Humane Society, taught Sunday school, served as youth director for Sons of Norway and volunteered for Birthline.

Survivors include her daughter Ava Hollen of Sauk Rapids, MN; parents, Karen and Talleiv Vollen of St. Cloud; brothers, Jon Vollen (Mary Lou Paul) of St. Cloud, and Eric Vollen (Jon Ness) of St. Paul, MN; Ava's father, Ted Hollen of Sauk Rapids; nephew, Aden Vollen of St. Cloud and Melrose, MN; Aden's mother, Mary Vollen of Melrose; Ted's mother, Jean Hollen of Chokio, MN; Ted's brother and sister, Josh (Cindy) Hollen of Clinton, MN; and Heidi (John) Voz of Detroit Lakes, MN; plus numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Andrew Leonard Vollen, grandparents, Lois and Leonard Helm, and Thora and Christ Vollen, uncle, Harold Vollen, and father-in-law, Arnold Hollen.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Ava Hollen Trust being established, the Tri-County Humane Society, Birthline, or True Friends-Camp Friendship.

Jennifer's parents are grateful for the presence of Ted, Jon, Mary Lou, Renotta and Ann during her final hour.