Jenni Lynn (Keith) Harsted, 34, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, December 11, 2023 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria after suffering complications from an autoimmune disease and pneumonia.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 14, from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A visitation will also be held from 10:00am until the time of service on Friday. A funeral ceremony will be held on Friday, December 15, at 11:00am, with Msgr. Halfacre and Chaplain Dave Van Laar officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.
Jenni was born October 13, 1989, in Morris, IL, to Virgil and Janet (Spandet) Keith. She married Alex Harsted on August 1, 2020 in Ottawa.
She started working in a daycare with her cousin for many years. She then became a parapro at Lincoln Elementary School, and eventually became an administrative assistant at the LaSalle County Sheriff’s office. She absolutely loved this job and all the people she met there.
Jenni was a fun loving Green Bay Packers fan and loved their yearly trips to the game. She loved the outdoors, and was always running, whether that be on pavement or to the mall. She spent many miles on the road traveling all across the country with her family or taking her kids to games, dance, or school activities. She had a special morning routine taking her niece, Ray, to school everyday and bumping Nicki or Eminem on the way. She was extremely devoted to her children, her nieces, and her nephew. She was inseparable from her twin sister, Lauren, they could be found together morning, noon, or night. She was always at her family’s sporting events, and was often the loudest, and sometimes the most irritating fan in the stands, but everyone knew she loved them. She was the strongest person you could meet, from climbing mountains in Hawaii to lending a helping hand, you knew you could count on her. She had the brightest smile and the most infectious laugh.
She is survived by her parents, Virgil and Dea Keith; her husband, Alex Harsted; her children, Chloe Jo and Maddox Hatala and Charley “Chuck” Harsted; her bonus children, Mason Hatala and Kiersten and Caleb Harsted; her brothers, Scott (Lacey) Monterastelli and Ryan (Alaina Martillaro) Keith; her twin sister, Lauren (David) Grumieaux; her grandmother, Jerri Lynn Spandet; her nieces and nephew, Raygan, Lillee, Reese, and Luca; her Aunt Shari and Uncle Darryll; her special cousin Sasha; as well as other aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends.
Jenni was preceded in death by her mother, Janet Spandet; Maternal grandfather, Ron Spandet; her paternal grandparents, Virgil and Rosemary Keith; her maternal grandparents, Don and Donna Tedford; her uncles John, Bob, and Chris Keith; and a very special aunt, Bonnie.
Pallbearers will be her brothers, Scott Monterastelli and Ryan Keith; her brother in law, David Grumieaux; her uncle, Darryll Tedford; her cousins Bo and Lee Mays and Matt Lucas; as well as her dear friend, Brandon Wade.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be used for her children.
Jenni was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in the Garden of Prayer.