Cerasoli
Jennifer Lynn (Rand) Cerasoli, 65, of Traverse City, Mich., formerly of Hollidaysburg, passed away April 26, 2023, in her home. Jennie was born in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the daughter of Donald and Marlene Rand, the second of three children.
The family lived there for two years while Don was serving in the Navy. She and her two siblings, Julie and Chip (Donald Jr.), lived in Hawaii, Ohio, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania while Don managed various businesses.
Jennie graduated from Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School in 1975 and then attended Penn State University. After working at Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Altoona, Jennie became interested in working with people with disabilities and later earned master’s degrees in special ed and education from the University of Pittsburgh.
After her marriage to John Cerasoli in 1995, Jennie moved to Traverse City, Mich., a place she grew to love. After her divorce from John, she remained in Traverse City for the rest of her life.
Jennie tutored and taught people with dyslexia, but worked mostly in restaurants and loved serving people. She was a passionate gardener and cat owner, great at crossword puzzles, loved reading true crime books and had a terrific sense of humor. She believed kindness to be the greatest human virtue.
Jennie was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Marlene Rand; and her brother, Donald Jr.
She is survived by her sister, Julie, of Chicago, Ill.; her brother-in-law, Matt Greenberger; their children, Eden and Nate; as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.
For those wishing to honor Jennie, donations can be made to the Save the Manatee Club, The Nature Conservancy or The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee. The best way to honor her, however, is to be kind.
