Jennifer Renee Stanley

Jennifer Renee Stanley, 50, of Canal Winchester, Ohio, passed away on May 7, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with SMARCB1-deficient sinonasal cancer.

Born on May 1, 1976, in Columbus and raised in Millersport, Jennifer was one of those rare people whose presence changed a room the moment she entered it. People loved Jennifer instantly. From parking attendants to nurses and doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center, everyone remembered her by name. She carried a warmth that was contagious, an openness that made people feel immediately welcome, and a kindness that stayed with people long after meeting her. Those closest to her often joked about what could only be described as “The Jennifer Stanley Experience.” Anyone who met her understood it.

Jennifer devoted much of her life to helping others. She worked for her family business, H&A Mechanical, and dedicated years of service to nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups including the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, Young Survival Coalition, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Caring for people was never simply work for Jennifer. It was who she was.

She loved adventure and new experiences, whether it meant traveling abroad or discovering somewhere close to home. She especially loved Rome, great restaurants, estate sales, and the thrill of finding hidden treasures in costume jewelry, which she bought and sold for many years. Jennifer adored giving gifts almost as much as receiving them. It was her love language, and she had an uncanny ability to find the perfect thing to make someone feel special.

Jennifer was passionate about music, especially Tori Amos, whose concerts she never missed when given the opportunity. She loved a good party and was always the last person ready to leave, somehow finding a reason to stay one more minute. With her beautiful red hair, sharp wit, captivating personality, and unmistakable laugh, Jennifer was unforgettable.

Jennifer shared nearly six beautiful years with her beloved fiancé, Joshua Wagner. The two met on September 1, 2020, during the height of the pandemic and became virtually inseparable from that moment forward. They spent nearly every day together, especially after both began working from home in 2023. They rarely argued, never grew tired of one another, and fell deeply in love almost immediately. They were planning their wedding when Jennifer received her diagnosis.

Jennifer fought her illness with extraordinary courage. She never missed appointments, continued to hold onto hope, and endured more emotional and physical pain than most people could imagine, all while maintaining the warm smile and loving spirit that defined her. Even through years of treatments, travel, setbacks, and difficult days, she remained herself until the rapid decline that began on April 28 and ended peacefully on May 7.

Jennifer is survived by her beloved fiancé, Joshua Wagner; her father, Mike Stanley and his wife Debbie; her mother, Nancy Held and her husband Stephen; her sister, Lacey Stanley; her brother, Seth Stanley and Katie, who are expecting a child; her brother, Cody and Kara Stanley, and nephew Walker; her sister, Casie Stanley and Justin Smith; her niece Josephine and nephew Finneas, who was born just one hour before Jennifer passed away, holding on long enough to know he had arrived; her cherished dogs Louie, Lucy Belle, and Benji; and countless friends and loved ones whose lives were forever changed by knowing her.

To know Jennifer was to love her. Those she leaves behind are heartbroken by the loss of such a remarkable woman, but profoundly grateful they had the privilege of sharing life with her.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBCA), c/o Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) online at www.bcrf.org or via mail to 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036.

Jennifer worked for MBCA at the time of her diagnosis and they have been huge supporters throughout Jennifer's treatment.

A celebration of Jennifer’s life will be announced at a later date.