Jenny Fedele-Fennell's final act of generosity will be celebrated before millions of viewers this Wednesday at the Rose Parade.
Fedele-Fennell had registered as an organ donor, restoring sight to four people through cornea donation. Now her portrait will appear on OneLegacy's Tournament of Roses float, "Treasure Every Moment Together."
Jenny was pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse at the time of her passing.
"Jenny's heart was big, her compassion endless," according to her OneLegacy tribute. "She was kind and empathetic, always looking out for others, especially those going through hard times."
Friends and family remember her playful spirit and wicked sense of humor. She had a deep love for music and dancing. Above all, she loved being a mother — her daughter was her proudest accomplishment.
Jenny faced challenges in life but persevered with strength and grace, using her experiences to support others. Her passion for helping others extended beyond her lifetime.
Fedele-Fennell's family gathered at Riverside Community Hospital in early December where they viewed her portrait, which will be made entirely of flowers and natural materials. The hospital, where Jenny spent her final days, hosted the floragraph unveiling to honor her legacy and the hospital staff who cared for her.
OneLegacy, the nonprofit organ procurement organization serving seven counties, has participated in the Rose Parade for 23 years. The organization's 2026 float will feature portraits of organ and tissue donors, including Fedele-Fennell, created entirely from natural materials like flowers, seeds, and crushed stone.
The float's theme, "Treasure Every Moment Together," celebrates organ donation recipients and their families. Each portrait represents the donor honored and the transplant recipients who benefited.
Fedele-Fennell's portrait will be positioned on the float among other donors, visible to an estimated 700,000 spectators along the five-mile parade route and millions more watching on television.
The Fedele-Fennell family encourages others to consider registering as organ donors. In California, more than 20,000 people are currently waiting for life-saving transplants.
The float will appear in the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2026, beginning at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. The parade will be broadcast nationally on multiple networks.
More information: To learn about organ and tissue donation or to register as a donor, visit OneLegacy.org.
