Jenn and I are cousins, though in many ways we were raised more like sisters. We are only eight months apart in age and grew up just a block away from one another, sharing childhood, milestones, and eventually motherhood side by side. Our children grew up together as well, nearly the same ages, woven into one another’s lives from the very beginning.

Before Cody was born, Jenn endured an unimaginable loss when her firstborn daughter, Abigail, passed away as a baby. That grief shaped her deeply as a mother and as a woman. Not long after, my daughter Jess was born, and three years later, Cody came into the world, bringing light, laughter, and healing into Jenn’s life and into all of ours.

As the children grew, our families became even closer. Cody and his brother Hunter began attending Pasadena Foursquare Church with us every Sunday. They loved it immediately, full of joy and curiosity. Their excitement eventually led Jenn and Rich to attend as well, where they found faith, healing, and community. Cody played a meaningful role in that journey simply by being who he was.

Cody also grew up alongside our family’s catering business, always nearby as food was prepared and shared. He saw firsthand how feeding people could be an act of love, care, and connection. That experience sparked a lifelong passion. Cody grew into a talented and dedicated cook, someone who genuinely loved nourishing others. Cooking was not just his profession, it was how he showed care, how he connected, and how he gave.

Cody’s life was rooted in love, faith, and generosity. He was deeply cherished by his family, especially by his mother Jenn, and his absence leaves a space that cannot be filled, only honored.

This loss also speaks to the importance of mental health and community care. Grief does not move in a straight line, and pain is often carried quietly. No parent, no family, should have to hold this weight alone.

This fundraiser is meant to help ease the emotional and financial strain Jenn and Rich are facing, especially as Jenn continues her courageous battle with breast cancer. By coming together, we can help create space for them to grieve, to tend to their mental and physical health, and to focus on healing.

Let us help Jenn and Rich carry Cody home, not just in distance, but in love. Together, may we help shoulder the weight of this moment so they do not have to carry it alone.

Please keep Jenn, Rich, Hunter & Sam, Noah, Kyra and Aunt Dawn, and the entire family in your thoughts and hearts.

Cody Smith 9/4/1998-1/23/2026