Jennifer Barnickel-Fitch, 56, of Plainfield, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Dec. 30, 2022.
Jenn was born on May 11, 1966, in Burlington to Ronald and Dorothy (nee Ogden) Fitch. She was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Waterford throughout college. She was a 1984 graduate of Waterford Union High School where she played clarinet and performed on stage for all musical productions. She was a 1988 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She also earned a Master’s Degree and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She began teaching, while still in college, at Grosse Pointe South High School in Grosse Point, Michigan, and continued to perform and teach for 30 years, and the last 22 years in the Chicago area with several years at the College of DuPage.
Jenn’s love of music began very early on in her life. As soon as she was able to talk, she had the joy of music in her heart and sang everywhere she was, whether at home, in the car, or in the grocery store. She sang solos in church and in Christmas programs before she was ten. Her involvement in singing and musical activities continued through high school in plays, quartets, choir, solo/ensemble, and solos in church, further refining her love of music to the point where she made the momentous decision to make this a lifelong commitment.
Early in her professional career, Jenn performed in and around Chicago, with one of her most prestigious highlights becoming a member of the chorus for the Chicago Lyric Opera. Upon starting a family and still continuing to perform, she began to focus on teaching as an extension of her love for music, sharing her unique abilities and talents with her students. Her natural teaching abilities not only nurtured the growth of her students’ music and performance abilities, but also the emotional skills needed to cope with the stresses of performance and life. Jenn taught all musical genres equally, blending classical vocal and contemporary techniques in the development of the individual student’s talents and voice.
Most importantly, Jenn was a devoted wife and mother, who put the needs of her family first while balancing her professional career. She was loving, supportive, and provided opportunities for her sons, through music, to be compassionate and strong while pursuing their dreams.
While the impact to the many lives Jenn touched cannot be measured, all those who had the opportunity to know her throughout her life, have benefitted from the guidance, kindness and joy she expressed every day. She will truly be missed by all.
Jenn is survived by her loving husband of 22 years Alvin Barnickel of Plainfield; sons Blake and Landon of Plainfield; mother Dorothy Strasser of Waterford; sister Cynthia (Ron) Hunt of Waterford; brothers Mark (Dena) Fitch of Lake Wylie, South Carolina and Jacob (Jamie) Fitch of Lombard, Illinois. other relatives and countless students and friends.
Jenn was preceded in death by her father, Ronald Fitch.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 145 South 6th Street, Waterford, from 10 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Services will begin at 1 p.m. with Pastor Michael Gudgel and Pastor Joshua Conradt officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to a college expense fund set up for Blake and Landon through PNC Bank via Zelle or Venmo account # 6303798463.
A memorial service will also be held in Naperville, Illinois in the near future.
Mealy Funeral Home is serving the family. Well-wishers may visit www.mealyfuneralhome.com.
-
-
-
-
-