Jennifer Dervin

Jennifer Anne Dervin (Jenny) passed away April 4, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with oral cancer.

She was born in Eau Claire, WI on May 15, 1967, to Jane and Orville Larson. She spent her childhood in Colfax, WI, attended UW-Stout, and graduated with a degree in Applied Mathematics. She moved to Rochester in 1989 and spent the next 32 years as a software engineer with IBM until starting a disability leave in 2021. She loved her job and her co-workers, enjoying the technical and project management aspects of her job as well as interacting with customers at workshops and technical conferences. Another interest was in introducing kids to technology, and she volunteered with several programs, including IBM's Lego Robotics program, EXITE camp, and Technovation.

Her greatest joys in life were in her personal life. Jenny married Jim Dervin on November 1, 1997, and they raised two children, Michaela and Kyle, together. When the kids were in elementary school, Jenny volunteered in their classrooms whenever she could, and as they started extracurricular activities, both she and Jim volunteered at and attended probably hundreds of swim meets, baseball and basketball games, and whatever other activity the kids chose. In their down time as a family, they enjoyed hiking, biking, playing games, watching movies, and going on at least one vacation a year. Jenny and Jim were also able to enjoy a full school year of empty nesting together once both kids were in college, relaxing at home and binging Netflix. Jenny fought her battle with cancer with the goal of spending as much time here with her family as possible, and that was evident in how long she lived, even once she entered hospice.

Jenny is survived by her husband of 27 years, Jim, their children, Michaela and Kyle, and their gentle giant of a dog, Leo. She is also survived by her sister Wendy, her sisters and brothers in law, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Jenny's memorial mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Rochester with Father David Medow officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home, Rochester MN and beginning at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. A lunch will be served after the service. Jenny's ashes will be privately interred at Calvary Cemetery.

Jenny's family would like to thank her care team at Mayo Clinic, especially Dr. Katherine Price and team, her therapist Dr. Jennifer Craft at OMC, and her Mayo Hospice team, especially Nate, Amy Jo, Karen, Betsy, and Joel, for the wonderful care and kindness they showed Jenny and her family throughout her illness.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Elder Network. 

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Dervin family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com