More than 300 people braved nor’easter winds and pouring rain on October 13 to pay respects to the family of Jenny Emery—her husband Dave and children Nina, Ellie and Bob—at Holcomb Farm. They came from near and far: extended family; childhood friends from Madison, Wisconsin; Middlebury College friends; professional colleagues; elected officials; neighbors; Holcomb Farm crew members; fellow volunteers; and many friends. Parked outside, a line of town and Holcomb Farm vehicles stood as silent tribute to a woman whose service to her community was transformative.
All who knew Jenny were stunned by the news that she had succumbed to injuries sustained in a bicycle accident on September 14, in Vermont. Just 66 years old, Jenny was full of life. She was running a campaign for reelection to the board of finance. She was leading an effort to transform the old West Granby Methodist Church into a year-round hub for food production, distribution and community engagement. A week earlier she had hosted, with fellow board members, the Holcomb Hoedown, bringing more than 600 guests of all ages to Holcomb Farm for a day of fun on the farm; and she was working to build a stable source of income to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Friends’ Fresh Access program, which provides farm-fresh produce to families who would not otherwise have access. Less than a year ago, she and Dave donated 29 acres of land to the Granby Land Trust (GLT), protecting a key piece of the Crag Mountain ridgeline above Emery Farm and allowing hikers on the Seth and Lucy Holcomb Preserve to access a lookout with views from Hartland to Springfield, Mass. It’s hard to imagine one person contributing this much to her fellow citizens, and yet that’s what Jenny did.
She was also a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, who, in her free time, baked her signature banana (“Nana”) bread, sang lullabies, took her grandchildren on long walks through the woods, went on hiking vacations with her children, took naps with her dogs, and was always up for an adventure. She found great joy in nature, and in her family.
Jenny and Dave Emery settled in Granby in 1981—first on Simsbury Road, then Day Street South, and finally on their dream property in North Granby—a farm they bought in a foreclosure sale and that they turned into their beloved Emery Farm. There, they raised three children—all of whom went to Granby schools.
Jenny built a long and successful career in the field of public sector risk management, retiring as a Senior Vice President in 2011, then serving as executive director of AGRIP (the Association of Government Risk Pools) and running her consulting firm, Emery Advisors LLC.
When Jenny officially retired, she turned her attention to public service. As one friend put it: “Some retirees take up gardening, exercise or travel. Jenny did all those things too, but her focus became serving the town.”
Granby became the direct beneficiary of Jenny’s boundless energy, keen intelligence and passionate drive. She served multiple terms on the board of education and the board of finance, was an active member of the Democratic Town Committee and played a vital role in supporting the Granby Education Foundation and the GLT. She was a GLT property steward. She was a regular contributor to the Drummer.
Perhaps nowhere was her influence felt more than at Holcomb Farm. Jenny joined the board of the Friends of Holcomb Farm in 2014, quickly became its part-time executive director and was later elected board president. She brought clarity of purpose, strategic thinking and her tireless work ethic to the organization. She broadened the farm’s reach and impact, championed sustainability and environmental stewardship, expanded its board of directors and deepened community support. Working collaboratively with the Town of Granby and GLT, she helped secure the permanent preservation of 277 acres of the farm. Jenny was not just a leader—she was a force of nature.
In her final days, Jenny was doing what she loved most: playing with her grandchildren, swimming and stand-up paddleboarding with her dogs, biking with her husband and enjoying the beauty of late summer in Vermont. Her life was full, joyful and purpose driven.
Granby is better because Jenny Emery was here. Her legacy endures—in the land she preserved, the farm she helped grow, the programs she built, her commitment to social justice and the countless lives she touched with her energy, enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to community.
Those who were lucky enough to know her—who were lucky enough to work alongside her, debate big issues with her, watch her face light up when she had a great idea and celebrate life’s joys with her—will be forever changed. Rest in peace, Jenny.
To read Jenny’s obituary, go to ForeverMissed.com
Many members of the community who knew Jenny shared their thoughts and memories about the time they spent with her. These can be read in full here.
A Note from the Emery Family
Jenny left many important projects unfinished, including her work as president of Friends of Holcomb Farm, where she was leading a campaign to rehabilitate the former West Granby Methodist Church building into a year-round farm store, post-harvest facility and commercial kitchen. This was a project that she envisioned as a “community investment in resilience, access and place.” We encourage those who are able to help us bring her vision to life through a donation to Holcomb Farm’s Jenny Emery Vision Fund. Learn more here: holcombfarm.org/jenny-emery-vision-fund/
Thank you for your love and support. —The Emery Family
Donations may be made online at holcombfarm.org, or by mail. Make checks payable to Friends of Holcomb Farm and write “Jenny Emery Vision Fund” in the memo line. Mail to: Friends of Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Road, West Granby, CT 06090