Stephanie Constance Jenness

Stephanie Constance Jenness (nee Yurcic),94, of Prince Frederick, Maryland, passed away on August 30, 2026, at Solomon’s Nursing Center. Stephanie was born in the small coal mining town of Isabella, Pennsylvania on February 3, 1932, to Kata Vrataric Yurcic and Jerko “Jerry” Yurcic who immigrated from Yugoslavia. Stephanie and her older sister Mary were orphaned at a young age. The family belonged to the Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) so the girls went to live at the CFU Children’s Home in Des Plaines, Illinois near the Chicago area.

Stephanie attended and graduated from Swoyerville High School in 1949. Shortly after, she moved to Washington DC to live with her sister. She attended the Capital City School of Nursing at Gallinger Municipal Hospital and was a proud member of the graduating class of 1953. She worked briefly in a hospital setting, and then in a family medicine practice in Mt. Rainier, Maryland where she spent over 40 years caring for generations of families.

Stephanie caught the eye of a young man, Robert “Bob” Jenness in the Spring of 1962 and just like that…the two were an item! They enjoyed a whirlwind courtship and married on January 12, 1963. They lived in Lanham, Maryland started their family, and then within a couple of years moved to Crofton, Maryland to raise their two daughters, Krissie and Quinn. In 1976, they moved to Dunkirk, Maryland following their dream of living in the country and restoring a historic home. The Drury House was Stephanie’s passion project! She loved all things antique and worked hard to maintain the authenticity of the home which was built in the 1700’s.

Stephanie enjoyed sewing, cooking, and going to antique shops. She was a lifelong learner, always reading about new topics from investing to prevention and wellness. She even got her realtors license while still working her full-time nursing job.

Along with Bob, Stephanie was devoted to her family. She loved hosting holiday gatherings, supporting extended family, and of course, helping her children pursue their hobbies and interests.

Most of all, Stephanie adored and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

Stephanie is survived by her daughters, Kristina Marie Watts, and Quinn Ann Ingemi (Basil, Jr.); her grandchildren, Stephen Clark (Duffy), Brittany Bartels (Brandyn), Matthew Clark (Breanna), Zoe Clark (Eric), Isabella Ingemi (Ben), Basil Ingemi, III, and Mira Ingemi; her great-grandchildren, Tillimarie Ruslander, Scarlett Bartels, Olive Clark, Sunny Clark, Dolly Clark, Camden Clark, and Kinley Clark.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Jenness, her brother, Nikola Yurcic, and sister, Mary K. Yurcic Mills.