Jennifer McMillan

Jennifer's Livestream Service will begin at 2 p.m. central time on Sunday, Feb. 25. 2024. There are two ways to join the Live ZOOM Webcast:

1. Scroll down to the Event; under the Livestream Service click on "Watch Event:   OR

2. Click on the Tribute Wall (above) and click on "Live Webcast."

MADISON - Jennifer Jean ‘Jenny’ McMillan was born on Jan. 12, 1985, in Madison, Wis., to Thomas McMillan and Christine Basile and on Jan. 23, 2024, at the age of just 39, she died. For the majority of Jenny’s adult life, she struggled with addiction and while her sudden passing leaves her family devastated, they find solace knowing Jenny is safe and with those prepared to bring her endless joy, affirm her innate worth, and surround her with unconditional love.  

Radiating warmth and vitality, Jenny's presence illuminated the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Described by a childhood friend as “inclusive before it was cool,” Jenny was a leader with boundless potential. Despite her struggles, Jenny consistently and persistently showed immense strength, determination, and resilience.  She wanted to be well and she wanted her community to be well, too.  Though addiction took Jenny from us, we find great strength knowing her legacy lives on through those whose lives she (literally) saved and those she supported on their journey to sobriety.

Jenny grew up in Sun Prairie, Wis., and attended Westside Elementary School and Prairie View Middle School. She graduated from Sun Prairie High School in 2003 and in 2012 Jenny earned her bachelor’s degree in literature and cultural theory from UW-Milwaukee.

As a child Jenny was active in Girl Scouts, student council, and in middle school she traveled to Pécs, Hungary to serve as a peer model at an English language camp. Jenny’s greatest passion, however, was for the arts, particularly music. Throughout her life, she actively engaged in school choir and drama, as well as participating in Madison Children’s Choir, Sound of Sun Prairie, and Sun Prairie Civic Theater. Jenny had an incredible voice and singing brought her peace and joy, even if fleeting.  

Jenny made the mundane memorable and thrived in the spotlight.  As a preschooler Jenny was disappointed to learn that children were not ‘allowed’ at the event her parents were attending. Confidently, Jenny responded assuring them she would not be ‘a loud,’ a promise she most certainly could not keep. Creative and energetic, Jenny invented games like ‘dizzo’ which requires one to spin in circles for hours, using the kitchen timer to monitor progress.  Jenny also opened a restaurant with a menu of saltine crackers with butter and cherry Kool Aid with sugar and just the tiniest bit of water, served in a teacup. She lived for Nickelodeon and never missed an episode of Doug or Rugrats.  Jenny adapted music and wrote songs, typically to annoy her sister. One of Jenny’s original compositions had the particularly poignant lyrics, “Fart, fart, toot, toot, give a little donkey. Fart, fart, toot, toot, off we go.” In song, Jenny suggested Michael Bolton revise his lyrics to add, “When a man loves a woman, why don’t they marry them, doodoodoodoodoodoo?”  

Jenny’s passion for the arts extended beyond music; she was a gifted artist, writer, and cook.  Jenny’s love of cooking led her to the olive oil and vinegar industry and for several years she thrived as the manager of a store in the Milwaukee Public Market.  In Jenny’s most profound period of sobriety, she was an accomplished distance runner, a published writer, and her sister’s very best friend.  

Jenny loved animals and the feeling was mutual. When she was a child, a stray kitten chose Jenny as its own, sparking a lifetime of rescuing animals and ‘gifting’ them to her family. Notable among these pets were grandma’s cat, Buster, her mom’s cat, Peter, and her dad’s dog, Charlie.

Though Jenny’s pets served as a great source of strength, the most impactful influence on her sobriety was the fellowship she found within her AA community and also the East Side Alano Club. With their support, Jenny has achieved several extended periods of sobriety and ended 2023 celebrating 90+ days. Though a world without her is unconscionable, Jenny gave her family the gift of the very best, most beautiful, loving, and lasting memories of her this holiday season. Jenny's last days were marked by unwavering efforts toward recovery. In a text to her sister, she expressed her commitment to sobriety saying, “I am still trying” and she truly was trying.

In addition to her parents, Tom and Chris, Jenny also leaves behind her sister, Leia, and brother-in-law, Ryan Esser, who loved and adored her. She is further survived by her brother, Casey, sister-in-law, Sarah, and niece, Everly Thompson, for whom she loved and adored. Jenny also leaves behind her extended family: auntie, Cindy Bartholomew cousin, Hannah Jaramillo; uncle John, aunt Mary and cousin Audrey McMillan; uncle Jim and auntie Robin McMillan; Jeanette Basile-Smith and her children, Christina, Jacob, and Jessica; cousin Daniel Basile III, his daughters Danielle, Danica, Dominique, and their mom Ging; and cousin Lisa Basile, her partner Tony Wineke, and their sons Wyatt and Nolan. Also surviving is Jenny’s current partner, Hadyn Kingswan.

In life, Jenny was deeply spiritual and in death she is reunited with her grandparents, William and May McMillan and Daniel Basile and Connie Bartholomew; uncle, Daniel Basile II; cousins, Jamie Smith and Cassandra Mooneyham; and her beloved partner, Wayne Roth.

Please share memories of Jenny at rememberingjenniferjean@gmail.com. A celebration of life, honoring Jenny’s vibrant spirit and celebrating her infectious energy, will be held on Feb. 25, 2024, at The Rickhouse, the event space within the Old Sugar Distillery, located at 931 E. Main St., Madison. The family will gather at 1 p.m. and the music filled service will begin at 2 p.m. Following the service, until 6 p.m., we will continue celebrating Jenny with karaoke and refreshments.  Out of respect for Jenny and those who choose sobriety, alcohol will only be served from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Guests are encouraged to come and go when it works best for them; street parking is ample.

Jenny’s family is committed to disrupting the corrupt and unjust systems that fuel the opioid epidemic and they are focused on constructing equitable, inclusive, and intuitive systems that promote safety, sobriety, mental health, and wellbeing. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the East Side Alano Club located at 1017 Northport Dr., Madison, WI 53704. Donations may also be made online by selecting the ‘in memory / honor’ option at https://eastsidealanoclub.org/donate.

Jenny stood beside many friends and family as they navigated sobriety, helping others even when she could not help herself. Jenny’s family encourages you to honor her by asking for help; understanding your worth and investing in yourself takes a village, a village you deserve. If you are in crisis, about to use, and / or are contemplating suicide call 988 immediately. If you would benefit from support accessing and navigating human services in Wisconsin, call 211. Al-Anon is a powerful program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s addiction.  At least now if you try, Jenny’s death won't be in vain.

"There's only now, there's only here. Give into love, or live in fear. No other course, no other way. No day but today.”  ~ Jonathan Larson

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420