Jennifer Boyd. (Courtesy Photo)
Jennifer Devereaux Boyd, 41, of Jamaica Plain died peacefully at home on Aug. 20 after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Jennifer is survived by her husband, Bryan E. M. Harter; her two sons, Russell and Zachary Harter; her mother, Pat Boyd; her brother, Cameron Boyd, his wife Kelley and their son, Brooks. Also survived by many other loving relatives.
Jennifer grew up in Lexington, Mass. and graduated from Connecticut College and later went on to receive her MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. Her early work years were spent at Harvard working on project-based after school curricula for elementary school children. She became a full-time mother in 2002 and adored her two boys. They loved spending time with her playing games, baking treats and just hanging out.
She was in the midst of studying for her MSW at Simmons when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. As she spent the next year having chemotherapy and radiation, Jennifer realized her dream was to own a yarn shop. She was a lifelong knitter and wanted to share her love of knitting and yarn with the community. Her dream was realized when JP Knit and Stitch was opened in March of 2011. Jennifer was the founder and co-owner of the shop with her mother and a good friend. It was her family, the shop, and her incredible community of friends and family that kept her going over the past 19 months as she battled the recurrence of her cancer.
A time of remembrance and chance to greet the family will be held at JP Knit and Stitch, 461 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, on Fri., Sept. 7 from 4 until 7 p.m. All friends are cordially invited to attend. A memorial service will be held on Sept. 8 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Revere Street and Roanoke Avenue, Jamaica Plain, Mass., and a reception will follow. Memorial donations may be sent to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Attn: Contribution Services, 10 Brookline Place West 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02146.